My Story

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**Title: "I Remember Who I Was"**

*(Gospel Afro-Soul Arrangement)*

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*(Spoken/half-sung with emotion)*

Eh… I remember

I remember who I was, oh

Before the world got heavy on me

Before I lost my way…

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**Verse 1**

I wake up with a weight I cannot shake

Bills piled high, my heart about to break

Mama's prayers still ringing in my soul

"Stay close to God, my child, don't let go"

But here I am, tangled in my shame

Bottles and bodies, trying to numb the pain

Every sunrise feels like judgment day

But mercy whispers, "Child, it's not too late"

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**Pre-Chorus** *(Building with harmonies)*

I know better, oo, I was raised in the light

But I keep stumbling through the night

There's a war going on deep inside

Between who I am and who I hide

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**Chorus** *(Full choir enters, drums & bass groove)*

I remember who I was *(I remember)*

Before I lost my way *(Lost my way)*

Before the nights got darker

And I stopped trying to pray

There's a light I still feel *(Still feel it, Lord)*

Though it flickers when I fall

I'm not too far gone, am I? *(No, no, no)*

Can I still be who I'm called?

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**Verse 2** *(Slower groove, introspective)*

I see my reflection, don't recognize the face

A stranger standing in my father's place

Love turned cheap when I gave in to lust

Now I'm holding onto chains and dust

Friends don't see the tears behind my smile

I've been running from myself for a while

But deep inside, there's a voice so clear

Saying, "Come back home, my child, I'm still here"

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**Pre-Chorus** *(Call-and-response style)*

Lead: I hear whispers of who I could be

Choir: *(Who you could be!)*

Lead: But shame keeps pulling me down

Choir: *(Don't stay down!)*

Lead: Still a seed of hope in me

Choir: *(Yes, there is!)*

Lead: Even buried in this ground

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**Chorus** *(Full energy, hand claps, African drums)*

I remember who I was *(I remember, Lord!)*

Before I lost my way *(I lost my way)*

Before the nights got darker

And I stopped trying to pray *(I stopped praying)*

There's a light I still feel *(Oh, I feel it!)*

Though it flickers when I fall

I'm not too far gone, am I? *(Never too far!)*

Can I still be who I'm called?

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**Bridge** *(Stripped down – vocals, soft keys, shaker)*

If grace is real, then find me here *(Find me, Lord)*

In this mess I made of years *(All these years)*

If mercy speaks, let me hear my name

Not as failure, not as shame

*(Build starts – bass and drums return)*

I don't want this life no more

I'm tired of closing every open door

If there's a road that leads me home *(Lead me home)*

Tell me I'm not walking it alone!

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**Breakdown – Vamp** *(High energy, choir lifts)*

Lead: I was taught right!

Choir: *(You know the truth!)*

Lead: I know the truth!

Choir: *(It's still alive!)*

Lead: It's still alive inside my youth

Choir: *(Yes, it is!)*

Lead: Even now, beneath the scars

Choir: *(He knows who You are!)*

Lead: I know exactly who You are!

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**Final Chorus** *(Full band, layered vocals, triumphant)*

I remember who I was *(I remember now!)*

And I'm not too far to change *(Not too far!)*

Though I've walked through fire *(Through the fire)*

And I'm drowning in my shame *(Lord, lift me up!)*

There's a light that won't die *(It won't die!)*

Even when I fall apart *(Fall apart)*

I may be lost right now

But I'm not lost in heart *(No, no, no!)*

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**Outro** *(Slow down, reflective, with sustained organ chords)*

So I'll rise… even if I crawl *(I will rise)*

I'll fight… though I've lost it all *(I will fight)*

'Cause deep inside, I still believe *(I believe)*

There's a better man in me

*(Softly, fading with humming and acoustic guitar)*

I remember… I remember…

Who I was… who I am…

Who I'll be… in Your hands.

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