An Ode to Myself
When I was young, and full of hope
The sun did always shine
My steps were light, I felt so right
I thought the world was mine.
“Full time service” was the thing
That everyone should seek
So that I did, I surely did
I went to teach the meek
Yes, off I went to give it all
The push I had to give
I put my shoulder to the wheel
Thus started I to live
And this went on for many years
Me blithely did I go
And to convert, it was my aim
I wanted “them” to know
That only one way was correct
The way that I was taught
I tried to totally convince
Their change was what I sought
I have the way, the truth, the light
I have the secret key
The Watchtower was my “mother” now
So come and follow me
I’ll teach you how to do the same
To gather all the “sheep”
We’ll work all day, we’ll work all night
And hardly will we sleep
Cause Armageddon’s coming soon
On that we can depend
So come and get baptized today
Get ready for the end
Well, this went on for several years
I preached and preached and preached
I talked to everyone I saw
To everyone in reach.
But one day late the elders came
They tried to drag me low
They said I was an irritant
And I may have to go
So shocked was I, I nearly cried
How could this really be?
Was I not doing all that’s right
Yet, their doing this to me?
And sure enough they tried to get
Some fodder for their case
They tried to put a mark on me
My good name to erase.
It broke my heart, I’d worked so hard
I’d worked hard by the book
I had a record unsurpassed
They didn’t seem to look
So one day, when their love was gone
And I felt all alone
I took my book bag and my books
And I came running home.
I never ere went back to see
If they would throw me out
I left, and really left for good
And not a word was spoke
What did this cost me?
Quite a bit, if you are to believe
45 members of my clan
Were left there, so deceived
My mother was just one of them
She shunned me really good
How could a mother do such things?
Who’d ever think she would
Cold winds of hurt fell on my soul
The frigid frost sunk deep
The darkness fell into my depths
I then began to weep
My mother had rejected me
I must have been the “runt”
The black sheep of the family
Well, this was quite the stunt.
So here I was, thrown to the winds
The chaff was blowing out
Where was I going after this?
I’d have to figure out.
Well, let me tell you once for all
It put me through the fire
I had to figure for myself
What was my heart’s desire?
I wondered through the wilderness
It seemed like 40 years
It was so hard, I’ll tell you now
I could hardly hold back tears.
But on I went, up hill and dale
Figuratively, of course
Trying to figure what was right
Still feeling some remorse
So here I am, long years ahead
I’ve finally come around
I know nobody’s got “the truth”
It’s nowhere to be found
Except inside yourself, says I
It’s deep within my soul
I think I’ve finally figured out
And now I’m on a roll.