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 drinkin’ from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder
Why so many lose, and so few win
Song: Something To Believe In
Artist: Poison
When this song came out in 1990 I was 2 years out of high school. Seems like only yesterday. From the time I was 16 and could drive, my best friend and I would make sack lunches and take them to all the homeless people who congregated around City Hall in Santa Ana, Ca. and spend time talking with them listening to their stories. My best friend, who I have known since 5th grade and still hang with today, played the guitar ever since I can remember and learned to play this song. To us it meant something. Still does.
Fast forward to present day. I now operate a public charity that strives to help those in need, only rather than giving away sack lunches we give away shoes. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to work with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series and attend a great number of their events where we collect shoes from all the runners and then donate them to a local rescue mission in the city where the race is held. Two weeks ago we attended the Zappos Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 where the man himself, Bret Michaels, sang this song. To be standing there hearing this song live while we collected shoes for the homeless was beyond incredible. Then to top it off I had the opportunity to meet Bret after the show. While the meeting was brief, due to the line of waiting fans, mostly women of course, it was one I won’t soon forget. He was extremely nice and very receptive to what we are doing. Hopefully, I’ll be able to take him up on his offer of being the recipient of shoes he gets from a relationship he has with a major footwear company, as well as catching another show down the road.
Thanks Bret for giving me and millions of other fans Something To Believe In!
…And give me something to believe in
If there’s a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise