to make me who i am lyrics

I?ve walked through this world sometime without a friend
My life has been up and down, been close to an end
I?ve been through the mill and I?ve paid my dues
Walked so many miles in different peoples shoes

But I?ve been through the fire and I?ve walked in the rain
I?ve felt the joy and endured the pain

Once I was a schemer but I always was a dreamer
But it took me who I was and where I?ve been
To make me who I am

I?ve met a lot of lost souls in the bowels of hell
Traveled some crooked roads and got some stories yet to tell
I?ve shot up with the junkie in piss stench halls
Broken bread with the devil, fallen on my knees to God

Some days I was blessed, some nights I was damned
But I always tried to lend a helping hand

Once I was a deceiver, now I am a believer
But it took me, who I was and where I?ve been
To make me who I am

Oh, I?ve seen the little children all strung out on dope
No one to care about them, living without hope
But I?ve been lucky that I always had a song
I?ll sing it with compassion, to try to right the wrong

Once my life was wretched but why should I regret it
'Cause, it took me, who I was and where I?ve been
To make me who I am

This is dedicated to my friends in jail
For my brother Jake who had to ride the rail
For my friend Roonie and Melvin who were so dear
They were so misunderstood but I wish they were still here
To hear this song I sing from my heart
They?re forever in my soul even though we had to part

Once I was a deceiver, now I am a believer
But it took me who I was and where I?ve been
To make me who I am

God said, "I forgive you, wipe away the scars
'Cause I know it took who you were
And where you came from to make you who you are
'Cause I know it took who you were
And where you came from to make you what you are"