THE WINNER

1Listen to me, you islands;hear this, you distant nations:

Before I was born the Lord called me;from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.

2He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.

3He said to me, “You are my servant,Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

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WINNER

The WINNER never had the most

Sometimes he didn’t finish first

And yet this WINNER now can boast

“I’m first because I’ve faced the worst”

There’s Hell on Earth and he’s been through

The WINNER’s scars prove that it’s true

What made him strong would kill the rest

But he won’t accept what fate may do

So he wrestled God till he was blessed

That’s why the medal’s on his chest

(The WINNER WILL be King…..How?!)

The WINNER just does WINNER things

Still y’all line up to crown him king

But if you bow to kiss his ring,

He just might drop and wash your feet

He’ll help to wean you off the teat

And show that you can still taste sweet

In even the most bitter wine

The WINNER says “things WON’T be fine,

But keep the faith, you still can shine”

***Pain for the strong’s like grace to the sinner

Deep cuts take long

Then heal strong

He who still stands is the Winner*

Each of us will face our strife

That’s why the winner’s flame’s so hot

In judgment at the end of life

It’s based on talents that we’ve got

When the pain’s intense you must stay real,

As life is more than how you feel

The WINNER’s man enough to kneel,

But wouldn’t surrender to the night

He won the fight, and won it right…

Ha! Now he only does what’s tight

(The WINNER WILL be King…..How?!)

It ain’t the size or the fight that wins

The WINNER is the bigger man

This man has more than money buys

He simply does what common tries

Although he has been knocked down 7,

Y’all saw him get up number 8

As the WINNER prepares for Heaven

All the while he changes fate

(The WINNER WILL be King…..How?!)

You wish you could go where he’s goin’

Think you deserve to share his throne

But you don’t want to know what he has known

Don’t want to see what he’s been shown

Don’t want to get cut to the bone

Or face the fear he did, alone

***Pain for the strong’s like grace to the sinner

Deep cuts take long

Then heal strong

He who still stands is the Winner*

The WINNER knows that he IS King….. How?!

He loves Royalty and wears her ring

The Man survived, now here’s the thing:

He’s sharp and hidden in the quiver,

He’s gotten now he’ll be the giver

And you’ll BOW to what he will deliver!!!

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*Please understand that I am NOT so audacious as to claim that I'm describing myself with this song. Rather, it IS a description of the man that I strive to become. To be this WINNER is my goal in life.

SUMMARY: As I’ve mentioned before (and undoubtedly will again), music has a huge influence on my life. I have certain songs that I will play, depending on the mood or mindset that I want to be in, that can change my very outlook on life. For the longest time my confidence level and self esteem were dangerously low. Then I was introduced to Kanye West’s music and I fell in love with one song in particular, which I have adopted as my theme song. “Stronger” has a beat which is very uplifting and lyrics which I find extremely empowering and fun. The catchy chorus begins “Now that what don’t kill me, can only make me Stronger….”, and that alone speaks to me enough to make it a classic! “Work it harder, Make it better, do it faster, makes us Stronger,” are the words which are playing in the background throughout much of the song. “There’s a thousand you’s, there’s only one of me…”, and “Bow in the presence of Greatness, you should be honored by my lateness, that I would even show up to your fake shit!” are extremely arrogant lines, yet somehow encouraging and confidence boosting. Looking at the lyrics in print now, the song is really more of a fun portrayal of a conceited drunk guy at a party trying to pick up women, but the empowering nature of it lifts my spirits and reminded me to smile and hold my head high. All in all, it made me feel like there is some pride to be had in persevering through more difficult circumstances than others probably will ever face (which I've voiced in "Pride In Scars"). That combined with reading “Think Like a Winner,” by Walter Doyle Staples (the most insightful book ever written- other that the Bible itself), got me thinking that I should write a song, Confident enough that Kanye would sing, about what I think a true Winner looks like. “Winner” is the result of these inspirations.