Kenny Ray Horton: Music
Grateful
This song was written after one of my bad publishing meeting days in Nashville in the mid to late 90's. I had two meetings that day and was told in both of them that my writing was terrible, my singing was bad at best and I would never be anything in Nashville. Paraphrased of course... That's tough to hear even with thick skin like mine was at the time. I stopped by a little liquor store on my way home to Franklin, TN and picked up a bottle of Woodford's Reserve (the serial number was in the triple digits then). I sat down in the kitchen of my trailer house under the one light that still worked. A blank sheet of paper and a freshly sharpened pencil on the table next to the bottle and a shot glass. I threw back two shots while I sat there and prayed. Not so much for help, but just sort of talked to God about how it felt. Just before the third shot, I picked up my guitar and put it in drop D and this little prayer fell out. When I feel kicked around, I sing this to remind myself of what I have been fortunate enough to accomplish in my life. Oddly enough, this little song made me reschedule another appointment with one of the publishers a week later - I played them the same songs...this time they liked them. I got up, thanked them for their time and walked out.
Verse 1
I've been allowed In this lifetime To live out dreams Most men never see I've taken for granted All that I've become here Are what most here hope for And some may not achieve Chorus
Lord, Forgive me If I am not grateful Your hand remains In all I do Lord, Forgive me If I am not grateful This gift of my life Is by the grace of you Verse 2
I'll do my best To count my blessings And live my life According to your will Should I fall Stumbling in darkness I know your light Is shining on me still Chorus