Story Behind The Song

I TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY WITH A TOURING EDUCATIONAL THEATER TROUPE FOR OVER A DECADE....I WROTE ALL THE MUSIC FOR THE SHOWS AND IN MY TRAVELS IT WAS VERY SOBERING TO MEET YOUNGSTERS WHOSE LIVES WERE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY BY DRINKING AND DRIVING. I DECIDED TO TAKE SOME OF THESE TEENS AND PRODUCE A FILM FOR ELEMNTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS REINFORCING IMPORTANT MESSAGES INVOLVING CHOICES, CONSEQUENCES, PEER PRESSURE, DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND DRIVING, PRIDE, EMPOWERMENT, SELF CONFIDENCE...

Song Description

THIS SONG ACCOMPANIED A VIDEO I PRODUCED WHICH FEATURED KIDS WHO SURVIVED ALCOHOL RELATED CAR ACCIDENTS...THEY ALL MADE THE WRONG CHOICE AND THEY ALL SUFFERED FOR IT...ONE KID IS IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR LIFE, ANOTHER GIRL LOST HER RIGHT LEG, AND ANOTHER LOST HIS BEST FRIEND

Lyrics

TITLE: LISTEN TO THE VOICE

(As images of car accidents and the consequences flash before the audience the singer sings):

Intro:
LOOK AT MY SISTER, WHERE IS MY FRIEND?
YOUNG BOY GRADUATE WILL NEVER WALK AGAIN
ALL KEPT DENYING ALL REFUSED TO SEE
JUST KEPT TELLIN' THEMSELVES:
"IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME"
WHY COULDN'T THEY SEE?

chorus:
LISTEN TO THE VOICE INSIDE YOU
BUILD SOME SELF RESPECT
TRUST THE VOICE, LET IT GUIDE YOU
YOUR STRENGTH IT WILL REFLECT
TALK TO EACH OTHER AND LET EACH OTHER KNOW
TAKE A STRONG STAND AND MAKE A CHOICE
TRUST YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR INNER VOICE
LISTEN TO THE VOICE!

vs:
STOP! PUT THE BRAKES ON
DON'T GET IN THAT CAR
USE YOUR VOICE
YOU KNOW IT'S TIME SHOW THE WORLD JUST WHO YOU ARE
I SAID STOP! PUT YOUR STAKES ON
ALL THAT YOU CAN BE (tell yourself)
"I'LL STAND WHEN I'M TALKIN'
PRETTY SOON WHEN I'M WALKIN
IT'S YOU THAT'S FOLLOWING ME,"
YEAH YEAH YEAH !

chorus:
LISTEN TO THE VOICE INSIDE YOU
BUILD SOME SELF RESPECT
TRUST THE VOICE LET IT GUIDE YOU
YOUR STRENTH IT WILL REFLECT
TALK TO EACH OTHER AND LET EACH OTHER KNOW
TAKE A STRONG STAND AND MAKE A CHOICE
TRUST YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR INNER VOICE
LISTEN TO THE VOICE.....

Interlude: (spoken)
SOME TIMES IT'S HARD NOT TO FOLLOW THE CROWD
BUT BE STRONG IN YOUR CHOICE
SHOUT IT IN A VOICE
THAT'S CLEAR....AND LOUD!

(sung): CLEAR AND LOUD! (LISTEN TO THE VOICE)

LISTEN TO THE VOICE INSIDE YOU
BUILD SOME SELF RESPECT
TRUST THE VOICE LET IT GUIDE YOU
YOUR STRENGTH IT WILL REFLECT
TALK TO EACH OTHER AND LET EACH OTHER KNOW
TAKE A STRONG STAND AND MAKE A CHOICE
TRUST YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR INNER VOICE

REPEAT CHORUS AND VAMP OUT ON "LISTEN TO THE VOICE"