This song reminds me of a guy I dated around 19 or 20. He ended our relationship abruptly and it wasn’t until a few months afterwards I found out why. He had gotten himself involved in something that was dangerous and he didn’t want me to be associated with him. He was a really good guy and he went down a very dark and rocky road. Eventually he became addicted to drugs and I saw him morph into someone I didn’t know over the years. But his heart was still gold. I can’t express how good his heart was and how he was good to his family and friends. Sometimes he was sober. And you could see the light in his eyes. We remained friends until we lost contact.

I recall picking him up, feeding him, letting him sleep on my floor on a pallet (that is where he said he felt most comfortable), giving him money and dropping him back off in a neighborhood. Oh, how I wish he could have found his way back to himself.

He passed away a couple of years ago. He was a veteran and a chef before he took a wrong turn. I will never remember him how drugs made him. No, I will remember him how he really was. I remember him how it should have been. In a way, he bared his cross and he is free from all of his chains.

Hey, Baby by Stephen Marley

I’ve been gone awhile away from you and I hope you overstand
That I’ve got to do what I must do to be a better man
‘Cause if I was just to act a fool, do nothing with myself
Then all my blessings would be cursed, my world would be crumble in
It’s a joy when I sit down and think of the good times that we have
And what we do to make it through when the good turns into bad
Well, I hope you’ll find it in your heart and know these words are true
And please don’t fuss because I must go do what I must do

Hey baby, don’t you worry, even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
‘Cause if you thought that I was lost, I had to bare my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

A time, a space, a different place, how perfect we might be
I would be the wind that blows, you’d be that willow tree
And I could never bare the thought of you not by my side
So I would be the warmth of day, you’d be the cool of night
And every day I pray to Jah that one day you will see
And overstand the fact I must fulfill my destiny
I hope you’ll find it in your heart and know these words are true
And please don’t cry, you know that I must do what I must do

Hey baby, don’t you worry, even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
‘Cause if you thought that I was lost, I had to bare my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

Well, and it’s not easy
Jah knows how I tried, I tried
So don’t you get weary (oh God)
Jah knows how I tried, I tried

And God knows that life is one big road
With a lot of signs and turns and twist and curves
Even though the road is rocky
But maintain to ride and keep on rockin’
From city to city, backyard to yard
And we be seein’ the cites standin’ under the lights
And the spot is hot, it’s cold and lonely at nights
And I’m feenin’ and I’m dreamin’ and I’m holdin’ you tight

But hold on, every single road I rode on
Come to an end and I’m back home again
So baby, please don’t cry
‘Cause no valley low and is no mountain high
And our love don’t die with the passage of time
It just grow more, it just keep strong
And even though I’m gone, I ain’t movin’ too far
You’re the light through the dark, shinnin’ right through my heart
So my journey just start

Even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
‘Cause if you thought that I was lost, I have to bare my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

‘Cause if you thought that I was lost, I have to bare my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains…

~Nikki