Never Be The Same was written by girls in Roxbury Youthworks GIFT, (Gaining Independence For Tomorrow) program. GIFT serves girls who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation, providing them with life coaches and resources for recovery to help them achieve their life goals. For six weeks I had the honor to work with these girls, helping them put their stories to song. I was inspired by their hard work and how they spoke their truth with great courage and commitment. Never Be The Same is what they had to say when asked what they would want the world to know about their life. We recorded a live performance of the song, which I’ll be posting soon, but for now I leave you with their words!
Never Be The Same
You know my name, not my story
You’ve heard what I’ve done, not what’s been done to me
Try walkin’ a mile in my shoes, you’ll fall the first step
You don’t understand my pain
Through everything, who’s to blame
No one but myself
It’s been 17 years of nothing but hell
I fell too many times
I know I’ll never be the same
All my mistakes are left like a stain
Every single one is like a drop of rain
I call it window pain
It’s my brain
I’m laughing at the world and everything around
Our footsteps will gradually take place
In this world full of pain
With the chaos and blame
I know I’ll never be the same
The beauty within her has been shaded to be as black as charcoal
The diamonds in her eyes, they no longer sparkle
So she walks through life like she no longer has a soul
She wanted to be loved so her body paid the toll
I’m laughing at the world and everything around
Our footsteps will gradually take place
In this world full of pain
With the chaos and blame
I know I’ll never be the same
Her tears and pain are more than insane
The tears make a puddle while the pain cuddles
Her body, her life, breaking down every night
My steps are dark even with a little spark
Your ears would bleed when she tells you about her life
The tears don’t matter, she’s about to die
From the pain and the sorrow that people cause today and tomorrow
I’m leaving the hurt, stabbed by the fork
I’m laughing at the world and everything around
Our footsteps will gradually take place
In this world full of pain
With the chaos and blame
I know I’ll never be the same
The lies that live inside of her have died
No one seems to stay ‘cause the love wasn’t true
She can’t hide the pain, laughing at the fakes
Cause of them she walks with her head down, hiding in fear
As Tupac would say, keep your head up
Waiting for tomorrow to come, hoping for a better day
Praying for someone to protect her in this world full of pain
Everyone is looking down on me
The hurt was disguised with smiles
Wishing I could go back to see why it was my life that ain’t so easy
I gave you all I had and so much more
I opened my eyes and now I’m walking out the door
A double life is what she lives
Wishin’ she could tell the truth
No where to get help so she returned to what she knew
But the people weren’t the same
Wanting out but wandering if she should stay
I’m laughing at the world and everything around
Our footsteps will gradually take place
In this world full of pain
With the chaos and blame
I know I’ll never be the same
I know I’ll never be the same