I Have a Story
Words & Music by Todd Porter
(c) 2022 Todd Porter  All rights reserved.

I have a story
That everyone I befriend
Goes away in the end
Hurting and sorry.

I have a story
That knowing me has to lead
To lots of heartache and grief
For anyone in my reach.

And though I know that this story’s not real
Knowing won’t keep me from feeling

That I’m stuck in a tale in which
I am the villain
I’m grasping for hope of
Escaping this prison

The more that I try
The harder it is to see…

That I have a story
Where all the things I believe,
Impractical and naive,
Are leaving me empty.

I have a story
Where trying to meet my own needs
ruins most everything
And still leaves me wanting

And though I know that this story’s not real
Knowing won’t keep me from feeling

That I’m stuck in a tale in which
I am the villain
I’m grasping for hope of
Escaping this prison

The more that I try
The harder it is to see…

If making it better’s just making it worse?
If moving things forward gets stuck in reverse?
If asking for help is just making me helpless?
If longing to live is just selfish and reckless?

I’m stuck in a tale in which
I am the villain
I’m grasping for hope of
Escaping this prison
The more that I try
The harder it is to see…

I have a story
Where everyone is alive
And with joy we all thrive
Sharing and loving

I have a story
Where we give and receive
And we have all we need
To overflowing

Deep down I that know this story is real
It’s ours for the living if only we heal

We can live in a tale 
Where there is no villain
Where sharing our Hope
Leads to everyone living

We’ll find enough love for
All of our hearts to see

That the story we live 
is the story we tell
Is the story we live
Is the story we tell…