Mylow A. Young
YOU CAN RISE AGAIN
LISTEN CLOSELY AS THIS STORY I TELL
OF A MAN WHO WOULD RISE, BUT THEN HE FELL
TRYING TO LIVE HIS LIFE ON HIS OWN
A LIFE, WITHOUT HIS GOD, TO BEMOAN
EARLY ON IN HIS LIFE, THE FATHER CHOSE THIS MAN
REVEALING TO HIM LITTLE BITS OF HIS PLAN
GOD SHOWED HIM THE WAY HE WANTED HIM TO GO
TAUGHT HIM THE THINGS THAT HE WOULD NEED TO KNOW
HE WOULD GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND PREPARE…
FOR MINISTRY, CAUSE THE LORD, HE WOULD SHARE
HE HAD A HEART FOR PEOPLE, BIG DREAMS AND AMBITION
TO GREATLY FULFILL THAT GREAT COMMISSION
ALWAYS WILLING TO TESTIFY
ABOUT HOW JESUS HAD CHANGED HIS LIFE
IT WAS AT THOSE TIMES THAT HIS HEART SOARED
BECAUSE HE REALLY, REALLY LOVED THE LORD
THEN WOULD COME SOME PAINS AND SOME STRIFE
HE FOUND IT HARD GETTING THROUGH, SOME THINGS IN HIS LIFE
HIS ZEALOUSNESS SLOWLY BEGAN TO SUBSIDE
THIS MAN LOST HIS STEP, YES, HE LOST HIS STRIDE
SO HE TRIED DOING THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY
(FROM) ONE THING TO THE NEXT, FROM DAY TO DAY
TAKING HIS MIND OFF OF THINGS ABOVE
HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT HIS FATHER’S LOVE
LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND THE WOUNDS TO HIS HEART
CAUSED THIS MAN, FROM HIS PATH, TO DEPART
COMPARED TO OTHERS, HE SAW HIMSELF “LESSER”
IT WAS HARD STANDING UP TO ALL THE PEER PRESSURE
SO HE FOLLOWED ANOTHER PATH ALONG THE WAY
FAR AWAY FROM GOD’S PLAN HE WOULD SOON STRAY
HE KNEW IN HIS HEART HE WAS ON THE WRONG ROAD
TURNED AWAY FROM LIFE, TO A PLAN ALL HIS OWN 
HE REJECTED HIS FATHER, WHO’S LOVE WAS THAT LIFE
BROKE HIS FATHER’S HEART, BUT HE DIDN’T REALIZE
CAUSE HIS SIGHT WAS SO FIXED ON A FANTASY
LABORED HARD TO MAKE IT REALITY
HE SOUGHT INDEPENDENCE, NOT KNOWING WHERE IT WOULD LEAD
WALKED AWAY FROM THE ONE HE TRULY WOULD NEED
TO EMBRACE LEISURE AND LUXURY
OF SUCH, SOME OF US, IN A LIFETIME WON’T SEE
RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE WELL TO DO
DOCTORS, LAWYERS, AND CELEBRITY TOO
FROM THE PLAYING FIELDS TO THE SILVER SCREEN
TO THE PARTY’S WITH THOSE YOU WOULD SEE ON T.V.
LIVING “THE LIFE”, OR SO IT WOULD SEEM
NOT WANTING TO WAKE UP AND FIND IT A DREAM
IT SEEMED SO REAL THAT HE WAS ON THE RISE
BUT HE WAS SEEING ONLY THROUGH BLINDED EYES
AS HIS REPUTATION AMONG THEM GREW
HE WOULD STRUGGLE WITH SOME THINGS BUT THEY NEVER KNEW
UNAWARE THAT HE WAS FROM THE “OTHER” SIDE
TAKING FLIGHT FROM GOD, THAT HE WAS TRYING TO HIDE
HE HAD CROSSED (BACK) OVER FROM LIFE UNTO DEATH
GIVING IN TO THE PRESSURE TO BE LIKE THE REST
SMOKING CIGARETTES BECAME THE THING TO DO
THEN MARIJUANA, YEAH, HE STARTED SMOKING THAT TOO
THEN HE STARTED TO DRINK, AT FIRST, ONLY BEER
BUT SOON IT BECAME WHATEVER WAS NEAR
THIS MAN STARTED OUT DRESSED AS A SOCIAL DRINKER
THEN WITH COCAINE AND OTHER DRUGS HE BEGAN TO TINKER
HE MAY HAVE STARTED OUT ON THE ADOWN LOW@
BUT SOON HIS APPETITE BEGAN TO GROW
HE BECAME A FUNCTIONAL DRUNK, AND A CLOSET JUNKIE
SOME THOUGHT HE WAS THE MAN, BUT HE WAS COCAINE’S FLUNKIE
THIS MAN PROCEEDED TO WALK HEAD FIRST INTO SIN
BLINDED TO THE MISERY THAT WOULD WAIT THERE FOR HIM
THIS LIFE OF INIQUITY, HE WOULD FULLY EMBRACE
THOUGH SOON, HE WOULD FALL, FALL HARD, ON HIS FACE
HE HEARD THE FREQUENT CALL OF HIS FATHER’S VOICE
AND HE KNEW ALL ALONG, HE HAD MORE THAN ONE CHOICE
BUT THE ONE HE MADE ALMOST DESTROYED HIM IN FACT
WHEN HE STOPPED SNORTING COKE, ONLY TO START SMOKING CRACK
HE BORROWED MONEY FROM, SOME OF HIS WELL TO DO FRIENDS
WHEN THE URGE CAME TO GET HIGH, HE ALWAYS CAME UP WITH SOME ENDS
CONNING, SCAMMING, MANIPULATING
DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO, TO SATISFY THE CRAVING
HE STARTED TO SELL AND TRADE THE VERY THINGS HE OWNED
ANYTHING OF VALUE HE WOULD TAKE OUT OF HIS HOME
TIL’ IT WAS ALL GONE, NOW HE HAD NOTHING LEFT
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME TIL HE RESORTED TO THEFT
IT SEEMED SUDDENLY, FUNCTION BECAME FUNCTION-LESS
BUT HE STILL TRIED TO HIDE IN HIS MOUNTAIN OF MESS
EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF HIM, HE BEGAN TO TAKE AIM
LOOKING AT PEOPLE AND CIRCUMSTANCES TO BLAME
IT WASN’T HIS FAULT, GOD KNOWS HOW HARD HE TRIED
THAT HE COULDN’T DEAL WITH THE SHAME GROWING DEEP INSIDE
HE WAS BEING HIGH JACKED BY ALL HIS HURT AND SHAME
AND THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR HIM TO HANDLE THE PAIN
AT LEAST NO OTHER WAY THAT HE WOULD EMBRACE
CAUSE GOD WAS ALWAYS THERE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FACE
BUT HE LET SO MANY DOWN, AND WALKED IN DEGRADATION
AND IN THE PAIN OF HIS FAILURE, AND HUMILIATION
NOW FEELING UNWELCOME IN HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
IT SEEMED THAT REJECTION WAS STARTING A TREND
CAUSE EVEN HIS FAMILY DIDN’T WANT HIM AROUND
KICKED HIM TO THE CURB, AS YET, MORE SHAME ABOUND
HIS WIFE, AT THE TIME, SHE CALLED HIM A LOSER
SENSE HE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC AND A DRUG ABUSER
EVENTUALLY EVEN SHE TURNED HER BACK
LOCKED HIM OUT OF HIS HOUSE, AND HE COULDN’T GO BACK
THERE WAS NOWHERE LEFT FOR THIS MAN TO GO
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF LIVING, HE HAD NOTHING TO SHOW
NO WIFE, NO JOB, NO HOUSE TO LIVE IN
ALL BECAUSE HE CHOSE THE PATHWAY OF SIN
WITH NOTHING LEFT TO CALL HIS OWN
HE THOUGHT, IN THIS WORLD, THAT HE WAS ALL ALONE
HE THOUGHT HE WAS ALREADY ON THE GROUND
UNTIL HE HIT THE BOTTOM, AND WAS STILL LOOKING DOWN
ANGER, LONELINESS, REJECTION AND STRIFE
ALL PART OF THE WASTELAND, THAT WAS BECOMING HIS LIFE
HIS HEART GREW COLD TO HIS FATHER’S LOVE
THE SAME LOVE HE’D KNOWN AND HAD TASTED OF
SO HE FOUND HIMSELF LIVING ON THE COLD CITY STREETS
HIS FALL FROM GOD’S GRACE NOW ALL BUT COMPLETE
THIS ONCE, PROMISING LIFE, TO THE DOGS IT WAS THROWN
AS THE CRACK-HOUSE NOW BECAME HIS HOME
THIS BECAME THE PLACE WHERE HE WOULD SPEND HIS TIME
IN THE MIDST OF THE WICKED, THE FILTH AND THE GRIME
THIS WAS HIS LIFE AND IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE
THAT ALL GOD HAD FOR HIM WAS MISERY
HE REMEMBERED HIS PAST, THEN TOOK A LOOKED AT HIS PRESENT
DRIFTING FAR FROM THE LORD, HE’D BECOME A STREET PEASANT
ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF, WAITING ONLY TO FALL
WITH NO SIGN OF HELP COMING FROM GOD AT ALL
UNWANTED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF HIS
NOW THE STREETS DIDN’T WANT HIM, HE HAD NO MORE TO GIVE
EVERYDAY BECAME THE WORSE DAY OF WHAT WAS CALLED LIFE
HE CHOSE THE PATHWAY OF SIN, NOW HE WAS PAYING THE PRICE
HE LOOKED AT HIS LIFE IN HOPELESS DESPAIR
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR HIM TO CONTINUE TO CARE
NO REASON TO PICK HIMSELF UP OFF THE GROUND
TO JAIL OR THE GRAVEYARD FOR SURE, HE WAS BOUND
THE THOUGHT THAT THERE’D BE, NO SOON COMING RELIEF
ONLY LEAD TO MORE HOPELESSNESS AND TO MORE GRIEF
IT WAS CERTAIN, IT WOULD ONLY BE BETTER, TO DIE
THAN TO WATCH AND FEEL THE PAIN MULTIPLY
HIS BURDEN GREW BEYOND THE ABILITY TO BEAR
HE FELT THAT HIS FATHER FOR SURE, DIDN=T CARE
HOW COULD HE? HOW COULD GOD ALLOW
THIS MAN TO BE FACING WHAT HE WAS FACING NOW?
HE WAS TIRED OF LIVING AND AFRAID TO DIE
BUT HE STILL PUT HIS WRIST TO THE BLADE OF THAT KNIFE
HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF AS HE FELT THE COLD STEEL
THAT THIS WOULD BE FINAL, THAT THIS WAS FOR REAL
AND THEN WITH THIS IDEA HE WOULD BEGIN TO DANCE
THAT PERHAPS, THAT JUST MAYBE, THERE STILL WAS A CHANCE
A CHANCE FOR HIM TO FIND HIS WAY BACK
TO BE SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF CRACK
THE MAN SAID ALORD, I REPENT! HELP ME PLEASE IF YOU WOULD@
HE THEN TURNED AROUND, AND THERE HIS FATHER STOOD
CAUSE GOD HAD NEVER LEFT HIS SIDE
HE’D BEEN THERE ALL ALONG, WITH HIS ARMS OPENED WIDE
JUST WAITING TO SHOWER HIS SON WITH AFFECTION
COMFORT HIM IN THE MIDST OF THE PAIN OF REJECTION
GOD HELD THE MAN’S HEART AND WANTED HIM TO KNOW
HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVED THIS MAN SO
SEE, GOD LOVED HIM EVEN IN HIS DEEPEST SIN
BUT HE BELIEVED HE COULD NEVER BE FORGIVEN
CAUSE HE DID THINGS SO BAD, THINGS HE THOUGHT HE’D NEVER DO
BUT HE WAS ALREADY FORGIVEN, YES, OF THOSE THINGS TOO
GOD KEPT HIS HAND CLOSE, AND HE KEPT THIS MAN LIVING
WITH MERCY AND LOVE AND THE GRACE HE WAS GIVING
THOUGH THIS MAN THOUGHT HE HAD FALLEN FROM THAT GRACE
HE WAS ALWAYS BEFORE HIS FATHER’S FACE
YES, GOD WAS THERE BUT THE MAN COULDN’T SEE
HIS FATHER’S HAND, THAT NIGHT WHEN HE WOULD O.D.
HE WAS STILL IN GOD’S SHELTER, CAUSE IT SHOULD’VE BEEN WORSE
HE SHOULD’VE FOUND HIMSELF RIDING IN THE BACK OF A HEARSE
BUT INSTEAD THIS MAN FOUND THE WAY BACK HOME
TOOK HIS PLACE AT THE FOOT OF HIS FATHER’S THRONE
GOD GAVE HIM A ROBE, A HUGE FEAST, AND A RING
THE MAN FINALLY REALIZED HE WAS THE SON OF THE KING
SOON, HE STARTED FEELING LIKE HE’D NEVER BEEN GONE
HE COULD SEE NOW, THAT GOD WAS WITH HIM ALL ALONG
YOU MAY ASK HOW I KNOW ALL THESE THINGS TO BE
CAUSE I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS MAN, IS ME
MY FATHER BROUGHT ME FROM A LONG, LONG WAY
AND I GIVE THANKS TO HIM FOR MY LIFE EVERY DAY
I THANK HIM FOR BRINGING MY FAMILY BACK
AND FOR GETTING MY LIFE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK
I THANK HIM FOR BRINGING REAL LOVE TO MY SIDE
IN THE FORM OF A BEAUTIFUL, GODLY, LOVING BRIDE
A TRUE HELP MEET, MY GIFT FROM ABOVE
AN EVER- PRESENT EXPRESSION OF MY FATHER’S LOVE
GOD BROUGHT ME BACK, YES, MY LIFE HE REDEEMED
AND HE BLESSED ME IN WAYS I COULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED
CAUSE ONCE, I LOST EVERYTHING, STRIPPED TO THE CORE
BUT MY FATHER GAVE BACK, SO MUCH MORE THAN BEFORE
GOD BROUGHT ME FROM A MIGHTY LONG WAY
IT=S A MIRACLE THAT I EVEN STAND HERE TODAY
I SHOULD BE LOCKED AWAY OR DEEP IN THE GROUND
WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO EVER, REBOUND
IT’S NOW, THAT I KNOW GOD HAD A PLAN FOR ME
A HEDGE OF PROTECTION THAT I COULDN’T SEE
CAUSE LOOKING BACK, AT LEAST THEN, I JUST COULDN’T FIGURE
WHY THE MAN WITH THAT GUN DIDN’T PULL THE TRIGGER
YOU SHALL NOT DIE BUT LIVE, MY FATHER INSISTED
WITH PURPOSE I DIDN’T KNOW THEN, HAD EXISTED
CAUSE HE DIDN’T PULL ME OUT JUST FOR ME
BUT THAT OTHERS WILL KNOW THAT THEY TOO CAN BE FREE
I WILL NEVER FORGET BEING OUT ON THE STREET
RIDING SUBWAY CARS TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP
I THANK MY FATHER, BECAUSE HE BROUGHT ME THROUGH
AND HE CAN DO THE VERY SAME THING FOR YOU
THIS IS A STORY THAT YOU MAY EVEN KNOW WELL
BECAUSE MAYBE, YOU LIVE IN A SIMILAR HELL
YOU’VE WALKED WITH THE LORD, NOW YOU FIND YOURSELF “STRAY”
AND YOU DON’T KNOW HOW YOU FELL SO FAR AWAY
SEARCHING THE STREETS FOR THE WRONG KIND OF AFFECTION
WALKING HEADFIRST, IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
COMPARING YOURSELF BY ALL THE WRONG MEASURES
INFLUENCED BY THE WRONG PEER PRESSURES
MAYBE YOU’VE FELT ALONE AND REJECTED
YOU MIGHT EVEN FEEL SOCIALLY UNACCEPTED
PERHAPS YOU’VE BEEN WITH THE LORD BUT YOU’VE FALLEN
IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY, YOUR NAME, HE’S STILL CALLIN’
PERHAPS YOU’VE SEEN YOUR DREAMS SHATTERED AND BROKEN
OR SOME HURT IN YOUR LIFE HAS FOR YEARS, GONE UNSPOKEN
AND YOU’VE TURNED TO WRONG THINGS TO COVER THE SHAME
GOD’S STILL STANDING THERE, WAITING, SO JUST CALL OUT HIS NAME
YOUR FATHER NEVER LEFT YOU, THOUGH YOU’VE RUN FAR AWAY
IF YOU’VE ASKED HIM IN YOUR HEART, THEN HE’S THERE TO STAY
DOESN’T MATTER HOW FAR YOU THINK THAT YOU’VE RUN
YOU’RE STILL YOUR FATHER’S DAUGHTER, OR SON
IT DOESN’T EVEN MATTER HOW TERRIBLE THE SIN
OR HOW HORRIBLY BAD YOU THINK THAT YOU’VE BEEN
GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF YOUR WRONG
BIRTHED BY A LOVE FOR YOU THAT IS SO VERY STRONG
HE WANTS YOU BACK, DON’T YOU WANT HIS EMBRACE?
DON’T YOU WANT TO SEE THE SMILE, ON YOUR FATHER’S FACE?
HE CAN FIX YOUR BAD CHOICES, HEAL YOUR WOUNDED HEART
AND IT’S TRUE, HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A BRAND NEW START
THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU, EVEN YOU CAN BE FREE
TRUST HIM WITH YOUR LIFE, CAUSE IT’S HIS GUARANTEE
HE’LL TAKE YOU RIGHT NOW, YES, JUST AS YOU ARE
HE LOVES YOU AND TO HIM YOU’RE A SUPERSTAR
LOOK WHERE THE LORD HAS BROUGHT ME FROM
IT’S BECAUSE OF JESUS I AM WHAT I’VE BECOME
I GIVE HIM PRAISE, I DIDN’T THINK IT COULD BE-
BUT OH YES, IT HAPPENED TO EVEN ME
NOW I REALIZE THAT DRUG LIFE WASN’T THE SIN
NO, THE REAL FALL WAS WALKING AWAY FROM HIM
THOUGHT I WAS RISING, OH, BUT WHAT A SURPRISE
TO FIND THE RISE WAS JUST A FALL IN DISGUISE
IT IS BECAUSE OF JESUS THAT I AM HERE...STILL
AND JESUS LOVES YOU TOO, ALWAYS HAS, ALWAYS WILL
WITH ALL YOUR HEART, CALL HIM, TO YOUR CRY HE’LL ATTEND
ALTHOUGH YOU MAY FALL, YOU CAN STILL RISE AGAIN
