Written by Sharon S. Johnson
Photo by Kieron Mannix on Unsplash
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I’d truly forgotten about this song. I’d written for a woman who was working in a prison ministry. It’s about a man who is battling drug addiction and who found the Lord and changed his ways. When I wrote this, I was feeling as though the man in the story was writing it through me. It was as if I had lived through addiction myself. Here are the words:
Used to be that all I could do in my life
Was raise Hell, get high and cause trouble and strife
I couldn’t stop I didn’t wanna I was so unaware
I didn’t think that anybody, anyone really cared
But then I met the Lord my God and He turned me around
He picked me up and then he placed me on solid ground
He said He loved me and He wanted me to change all my ways
I thought I couldn’t but because of Him I stand here today
So I say
I’d rather be a conscious guy
With spirit flowing deep inside
I’d rather live without my high
Than live without Him
I’d rather lose my selfish pride
Leave all my troubles far behind
Keep all the thoughts within my mind
Upon Him
Used to be that I traveled through life unawake
Didn’t know just what to do or which road I should take
Just walked around without a purpose and without a plan
I didn’t think that anyone out there could understand
But then the Lord My God he stepped right onto my path
He said I’ll help you to restore your life now if you just ask
He told me He would wake me up so I could see
The precious love that He’s already given to me
So now I say
I’d rather be a conscious guy
With spirit flowing deep inside
I’d rather live without my high
Than live without Him
I’d rather lose my selfish pride
Leave all my troubles far behind
Keep all the thoughts within my mind
Upon Him
When I awakened to the deep dark truth of who I had been
I felt a heavy heart, a burden from all of my sin
I couldn’t rid myself of all the guilt and the shame
I tried so hard but in the end I felt nothing but pain
But God reminded me, He said these simple words to me
I paid the price I sacrificed my life so you could be free
Such everlasting love, no need for getting high anymore
He mounts me up on eagles wings so way up high I can soar
And so I say
Now I can live the conscious life
The spirit’s flowing deep inside
And I can lift my hands up high
And sing about Him
I truly left it all behind
Now I can look up to the sky
And keep the thoughts within my mind
Upon him
