Dedicated to Dr. Martin Scheid who saved my life when my appendix busted in Houston, and to all the people who came to my last concerts of 1978 and didn't complain that I was only able to sing from a wheel chair.
I SPENT A LIFETIME IN PRISON BELIEVING ID NEVER GET OVER THE FALL
BUSTED FOR FIRST DEGREE I WAS TO BLIND TO SEE WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR IT ALL
SOME SAID THE DEVIL, BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS IF I PUT MY FUTURE IN HIM
OTHER FOLKS BET THAT ID NEVER GET ON MY FEET AGAIN
RUNNING AND JUMPING FREE AS A BIRD JUST LIKE A CHILD LEFT TO PLAY
FREEDOM WAS ONE MORE THING I TOOK FOR GRANTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT AWAY
MARRIAGES BREAKUP AND SOME PEOPLE TAKE UP DRINKING TO MAKE THEM FORGET
BOTH OF THEM SWEARING, NEITHER ONE CARING WISHING THAT THEY NEVER MET
TAKING THE CHILD AWAY, WHO CARES WHAT CHILDREN SAY UNTIL THEY TURN INTO MEN
SOMEDAY YOU'LL SEE IM GONNA BE ON MY FEET AGAIN
AND I LEFT MY STOMACH IN HOUSTON ON SOME SURGEONS KNIFE BUT I SLEEP THOUGH IT ALL
IN THE RECOVERY ROOM FATE DEALT THE CARDS TO SOON TAKING MY LEGS IN THE FALL
WHEEL CHAIRS TURN INTO CANES TILL I LEARNED TO WALK PLACES THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN