Music copyright © 1999 by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Annie Roboff
Words 1999 by Jim Bearden

This song came from a sort of “fortunate coincidence”. One of the songs that came out recently that I’ve liked enough to try to learn it myself is “Almost Home”, by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Annie Roboff. I was trying to figure out the chords to it one evening, just after I had been reading an article about the Special Olympics. I made the interesting discovery that the motto of the Special Olympics (“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”) fit the music at the end of the chorus of “Almost Home”, almost exactly. Since I liked both the idea of doing a song about the Special Olympics, and the music to the song, I decided to see what I could do with the rest of it, and this is the result. I hope you like it, but even if you don’t, I hope you’ll support the Special Olympics– go here to find out more about them, and why you should.

Verse 1:
Thought about my life this morning; where I’ve been, and who I’ll be.
And I can’t keep from thinking, it’s not always been easy, being me.
But I’ve found things I can believe in, and one of them is me.
Got no reason to be grieving — and if you wonder why I feel this way, just watch me and you’ll see.

Chorus 1:
Now I’m running; yeah, I’m flying.
I hope you’re seeing: disabled doesn’t mean disheartened.
So let me win, but if I cannot win,
Let me be brave in the attempt.

Verse 2:
And I wonder what you’re seeing, when you’re looking now at me —
An object of your pity, or someone who’s being all that I can be?
Yeah, my load might have been lighter, if I’d been born more like you;
But it’s taught me to be a fighter, and while I can’t say I’ve got no regrets,
I can say I’ll make it through.

Chorus 1

Bridge:
While I can’t say I’ve got no regrets,
I can say I’ll make it through.

Chorus 2:
Now I’m running; yeah, I’m flying.
I hope you’re seeing: disabled doesn’t mean disheartened.
So let me win, but if I cannot win,
Let me be brave …

Chorus 3:
Yeah, I’m running (now); yeah, I’m flying (high).
I hope you’re seeing (now): disabled doesn’t mean disheartened.
So let me win, but if I cannot win,
Let me be brave in the attempt.

End:
And I’m almost home.

Dedicated to all the champions of the Special Olympics (who are, to me, everyone who’s participated in them); and to Donald Bearden (who’s never competed in the Special Olympics, but who’s helped some people who have), champion in wheelchair tennis, basketball, track, and ping-pong, from whom I have learned a lot about overcoming disabilities of all kinds.

Contact me about this song: