BLIND BY CHOICE
Written by Barry P. Foley
Copyright @ 25 March 1998
On the back streets of Memphis, was an old man playing the blues
On an old beat up red guitar
I stopped for just a moment, to listen to his tune
My eye caught the sign on his tip jar
I was in no hurry and I had time to kill, just lost my job and my future had died
Some months had past since my wife ran away, there was no hope left inside.
After the old man played a second song he said, “You gonna hang around for free”
I said maybe, but I put a quarter in his jar
His glazed eyes said he was blind, but before I could ask, he said
For a dollar I’ll tell you the story of my life
Back in 63, you know, I had it all, a gold Cadillac and my guitar painted red
I lived life by the seat of my pants, till one day it crashed in and in a panic
I put a gun to my head
I traveled down a long dark tunnel to a waiting bright light,
I met my maker, but I wasn’t as scared as I should
I told him “I’m not ready to go”, he said, “you’re in before your time,
Cause you’re living to fast for your own good
Then he said I’ll give you a second chance, but you’ve got to make a sacrifice
I said so, take all my money and all my diamond rings
He said you don’t understand, it’s much bigger than that, Son
Besides I don’t need your material things
What he said next took me by surprise, I can remember it just like it was yesterday
You got to give up your voice, your ears, your eyes, or your hands that makes that guitar play”
My life flashed through my mind, memories one by one, all the beauty, the mountains and the sea
I’ve seen my children born and grow up to be fine
So I said “take my eyes”, they don’t mean that much to me
With no reply, I awoke up in a cold hospital bed, scared to death and darkness all around
The doctor’ standing over me said that bullet just creased your head
And you’re lucky even to be alive
So that’s it my friend, that’s my story in a song, I hope you liked it and thanks for the tip, of course
So next time when you’re feeling down, cause things don’t look so good
Remember it better than being “Blind by Choice”
“Blind by Choice, “Blind by Choice, Blind by Choice