Episode 6 - Second Chance (for Elizabeth Johnson Rice)

I Wrote this Song for You

Where do we go when we die? And what if we could go there and then come back to tell about it? For Elizabeth Johnson Rice, a prominent 1960's social activist, her brush with death left her forever changed and set her on a mission which she is still pursuing today at the age of 80.

Second Chance is written by Wells Hanley and is sung by René Marie. Wells Hanley, piano; Randall Pharr, bass; Billy Williams, drums. Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Curtis Fye.

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Thank you to family and friends for your support in the long journey that created this podcast. Your hearts are woven into every episode.

A special thanks to Jude Treder-Wolff for introducing me to the NYC storytelling community and for our many adventures together pairing story and song.

A very special thanks to Courtney Page Ferrell for bolstering my confidence before I believed in this idea, for realizing "it's a podcast!", and for continuing to cheer me on tirelessly.

The deepest and most cathartic thank you to Elizabeth Smartt for partnering with me to birth this creative vision. For spending countless hours sculpting my idea into something clear and concise down to the logo, website, and even the format of each episode. You are a godsend of a creative collaborator and I am eternally grateful to you for bringing this podcast into the world with me.

Thank You Patreon supporters for helping me produce this episode!

Patreon Gold (Passionate): Paula Atwood, Royce and Rosalie Blowe, Moira Danis, Kristin Dimento, Thomasina LaGuardia, Molly Perkinson, Elizabeth Rice, Linda Wells, Gordon Winn, Sharon Wyse, William Zybach. Patreon Silver (Inspired): Ariela Bonucci, Tanara Bowie, Alison Deadman, Mark Goodwin, Hayes Hanley, Karen Hanley, Joseph Lee, Linda DiPaolo Love, Stephanie Mastri, Randall Pharr, Sallie Thalhimer, Robert Williamson.

Second Chance Music and Lyrics by Wells Hanley ©2022

Look who's got a second chance,

I'm back on the ground from the great expanse.

I took a dive, but I've got a second chance.

I just landed my lucky break,

got the band back together for another take.

I was "ciao", but now I'm wide awake.

I let my life go completely

receding to a far away shore.

Now I've returned so sweetly,

back in the flesh, and ready for more.

I can feel my feet, I can sing and dance,

I've returned to wearin' my shirt and pants,

I've got a second chance.

And I'm carrying a jewel,

and I don't wanna drop it,

I would be such a foo-el

if I should ever stop making the most of this second chance!

My days were numbered, I lumbered,

feeling so encumbered by fate,

but having dozed and slumbered,

I'm back in the race, and I'm feeling great...

There's a tear somewhere in the grand design

that I should have crossed that finish line

and kept on running, Lord how I feel so fine!

Now I have got another shot,

I've entered a bonus round, and I would never have thought

there could exist this delicious twist in the plot...

The curtain was closed, and the show was done,

but the producer introduced an extended run.

We made a pact, and now another act has begun.

The show keeps going and going,

I know it's gonna grow and thrive.

I'm overflowing just owing

to being alive!

I am gonna survive...

I'm living up my second chance,

I'm gonna work this perk in my circumstance.

I was revived, and I survived,

my day has arrived, I'm gonna thrive,

and I'm still alive cause I've got a second chance...

...and I know I never want to lose my second chance!