These lyrics were written in collaboration with the patients at R. E. Blaisdell Addiction Treatment Center in Orangeburg, NY, in September 2023. I asked what we should write about today, and one person said, "I've been trying to learn how to love myself." This is the song that emerged. 

This recovery music is all about the message and is free to download and share wherever the message is welcome!

LOVE YOURSELF

I hated myself and everything about me
My family was better off without me
Life careening to a dead end
Jack Daniels was my only friend		(Then I heard a voice)

You gotta love yourself, stop sinking deeper
Gotta give up the dance with the grim reaper
Come to your senses, find humility
You gotta love yourself… if you wanna be free

Divine intervention, trouble with the law
A wake up call, left hook in the jaw
Ten-year marriage breaking up
I’m in rehab and I’m waking up 

You gotta love yourself, stop sinking deeper
Gotta give up the dance with the grim reaper
Come to your senses, find humility
You gotta love yourself… if you wanna be free
Love yourself… if you wanna be free 

Open my eyes, face my inner hell
Climb out of this grave I dug myself
Nothing left to lose, so I give it my all
Time for me to stand up tall   	

You’re gonna be okay 
If you stay in today
Let go, let God handle the rest
Focus on growing… and being your best

You gotta love yourself, stop sinking deeper
Gotta give up the dance with the grim reaper
Come to your senses, find humility
You gotta love yourself… if you wanna be free
Love yourself… if you wanna be free

Love Yourself

This song was written with the guys at R. E. Blaisdell Addiction Treatment Center in December 2023.

NEW DAY DAWNING

Billows of smoke cloud my view  
I feel you there, I know it's you
Clear the haze, release the spell
Together we’ll escape this hell

Addiction forced a double life
Made sure my days were full of strife
A loving God, a touch of grace
You brought me to a safer place

Hold me in your love
Soon the sun will rise
A new day is dawning
Help me see with sober eyes

Like a hamster spinning in a wheel 
I could never truly feel
Sealed away my shame and pain 
Now I know I needed it to gain

Disease took hold, I did not know
Held me back, I could not grow
I’ll show a better side of me
I’ll throw that mountain right into the sea

Hold me in your love
Soon the sun will rise
A new day is dawning
Help me see with sober eyes

Here at Blaisdell, I’m getting well
No longer in addiction's spell
Peer support, familiar tales
With your help I know I will not fail

Every day, a second chance
I don’t just give a passing glance
For inner strength is what I pray
To make it safely through another day 

Hold me in your love
Soon the sun will rise
A new day is dawning
Help me see with sober eyes 

Hold me in your love
Soon the sun will rise
A new day is dawning
I face the world with sober eyes

New Day Dawning

The lyrics were written in collaboration with attendees at my creative writing workshop at Faces & Voices of Recovery Leadership Summit in Washington DC. The theme of the conference was UNSHAKEABLE: Building Resiliance in a Changing World, so we decided to write a song called UNSHAKEABLE!

Steve Adams on Piano, Viv Nesbitt on Backing Vocals

UNSHAKEABLE - a collaboration with Faces & Voices of Recovery Writing Workshop

When life comes at me, like a hurricane win
I’ll be like a willow tree, I'll sway and bend
My roots are strong, so I won’t break
Grounded in love, and I'm wide awake

If ya wanna keep it, ya gotta share it
So everyday I proudly wear it
Recovery's a gift, fragile and breakable	
So my resolve… must be UNSHAKEABLE

My branches reach, throughout my tribe
Arm in arm, nothing left to hide		
I’m willing to change, share my pain
Growing together keeps us sane

If ya wanna keep it, ya gotta share it
So everyday we proudly wear it
Recovery's a gift, fragile and breakable	
So our resolve… must be UNSHAKEABLE

I know that I'm never, really alone
If I’ll just pick up, that ten ton phone
When I'm feeling down, and I ask for help
A fellow traveler’s hope, is deeply felt

If ya wanna keep it, ya gotta share it
So everyday we proudly wear it
Recovery's a gift, fragile and breakable	
So our resolve… must be UNSHAKEABLE

It's okay to grieve, it's okay to fail
We pick ourselves up and stay on the trail

We heal together, with hope and strength
We’re willing to go, to any length
Connection, community, makes us strong
We lift our hearts with joy and song

If ya wanna keep it, ya gotta share it
So everyday we  proudly wear it
Recovery's a gift, fragile and breakable	
So our resolve… must be UNSHAKEABLE
Yes, our resolve… must be UNSHAKEABLE

Unshakeable

JOHN DILLON is an accomplished singer-songwriter, guitar-maker, author, and producer who began his recovery journey in 1992. 

John is recognized for his work as co-host and producer of Art of the Song a one-hour program about songwriting and creativity heard on over 100 public radio stations. His book The 20-20 Creativity Solution gives readers a step-by-step process to enhance their creativity. As a luthier, John has built over 80 custom acoustic guitars for the likes of Hank Williams, Jr., Trisha Yearwood, the Mavericks, Tish Hinojosa and Steve Earle. In 2022, he released his fourth studio album HOPE ROAD - from Addiction to Recovery.

Visit John at: HopeRoadMusic.com

Unshakeable

John Dillon

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