From the recording Forged on the Road (Released March 20, 2026)
A true story about poverty and homelessness in my young, formative years.
When I was young, my single dad and I experienced poverty and homelessness. If it wasn't for our old beat-up car, there would have been periods when we would've had no shelter at all. The times we did have other shelter, we'd be sleeping on people's couches and their floors. I'm grateful to this day for their generosity.
Of course, every good thing comes to an end. When we overstayed our welcome, they'd let us know and we'd pack our things back in the car. We'd drive north to a small town (Port Perry) where nobody knew us. We'd take refuge, avoid talking about how we're once again homeless, and day dream about a brighter future that was surely just around the corner. This went on for years.
Of course, all not-so-good things also come to an end, and our experiences shape us. The song ends on a positive note about life now with my wife and kids; about being able to enjoy something as mundane as receiving mail to our house. Something we couldn't do when I was a kid.
This song servers as a means of reconciling my past through the avenue that I know best, music:
Lyrics
[Verse]
We'd sit next to the old red mill
Looking out over the lake
We'd eat our ice cream on the hill
Forget our troubles, they could wait
You see, when things got rough we'd hit the road
And we'd drive north till it was safe
The same old town is where we'd go
Where nobody knew us and we could escape
[Chorus]
We had our port in the storm
Where we would hide till the coast was clear
We'd make new plans and chart our course
And we'd never talk about our greatest fear
That it would take us years
[Verse]
Spent many a night on a couch
Wondering what it would be like
To have my own room in our own house
With no fear of where I'd sleep the next night
You see, acts of kindness go so far
But then it's time that we move on
We'd pack our things back in the car
Close our eyes and wait for dawn
[Chorus]
We had our port in the storm
Where we would hide till the coast was clear
We'd make new plans and chart our course
And we'd never talk about our greatest fear
That it would take us years
[Verse]
"Don't know what we would do
Without our home that rolled on wheels"
The only thing left we could lose
Had four doors and the paint was peeled
You see, if the motor ran then we could too
To our trusty port in a storm
What we were nobody knew
Poor can take on many forms
[Chorus]
We had our port in the storm
Where we would hide till the coast was clear
We'd make new plans and chart our course
And we'd never talk about our greatest fear
That it would take us years
[Verse]
My old man's still that rolling stone
He finally rolled off and out of reach
Still no house to call his own
I've learned for that one dare not weep
You see, a wind now billows my worn sail
She's my gift sent from above
Our kids and a house where we get mail
We rest assured in our love
[Outro]
We now live in that old town
But we don't hide now the coast is clear
I guess this stone's no longer round
'Cause all I want is to stay right here
And keep my family near