Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Bumper Music
Song #119
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Poison
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themselves until their music finally began paying off.
On Christmas Eve 1989, Poison lead singer Bret Michaels' huge Polynesian bodyguard died alone in his Palm Springs hotel room. His name was Kimo, and much like the rest of the band, he became heavily involved with alcohol, drugs, and women, which had taken a toll on his health. Kimo was also a personal friend of Michaels and when the Poison vocalist was informed of his mate's death, he reacted by locking himself in his room and writing this song.
This song is not only about Kimo, but also Bret's cousin Bob who was wounded in Vietnam. In the June 10, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone, Michaels said: "All the songs I write have a bazillion verses. 'Something to Believe In' is one of the only songs to get played on radio that's over six minutes long.
On Christmas Eve 1989, Poison lead singer Bret Michaels' huge Polynesian bodyguard died alone in his Palm Springs hotel room. His name was Kimo, and much like the rest of the band, he became heavily involved with alcohol, drugs, and women, which had taken a toll on his health. Kimo was also a personal friend of Michaels and when the Poison vocalist was informed of his mate's death, he reacted by locking himself in his room and writing this song.
This song is not only about Kimo, but also Bret's cousin Bob who was wounded in Vietnam. In the June 10, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone, Michaels said: "All the songs I write have a bazillion verses. 'Something to Believe In' is one of the only songs to get played on radio that's over six minutes long.
Well I see him on the TV preachin' 'bout the promised lands
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hands
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn't want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, no regrets
In a time I don't remember, in a war he can't forget
He cried "Forgive me for what I've done there
'Cause I never meant the things I did"
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall sees my smile it fades again
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
You gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read JESUS SAVES
A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they're living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinking from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder why so many lose
And so few win
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
You take the high road, and I'll take the low road
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
And give me something to believe in
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hands
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn't want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids, no regrets
In a time I don't remember, in a war he can't forget
He cried "Forgive me for what I've done there
'Cause I never meant the things I did"
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall sees my smile it fades again
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
You gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read JESUS SAVES
A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they're living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinking from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder why so many lose
And so few win
And give me something to believe in if there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, Oh Lord arise
You take the high road, and I'll take the low road
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
And give me something to believe in
See an entire collection of songs about homelessness performed by your favorite artists
including biography, lyrics and the story behind the music
at HomelessPerspective.com
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©Hope4Restoration.org 2017 All Rights Reserved
Hope 4 Restoration is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID 82-2374403. All donations are tax deductible in full or in part.
©Hope4Restoration.org 2017 All Rights Reserved