©Leonie Wheeler and Charlie Moore 2012
Background:
The Truth of a Man was another experience gifted to me when I travelled by train across the U.S.A. I was on the last leg (a very slow train trip) from San Antone to Los Angeles, and it was just after the Angel Rose experience, that I met a man who told me about his life story, and who in fact gave me the manuscript that he had written whilst in jail, about his life. As I read about his life, I could hear him two seats back, having phone conversations with people whose names I was reading in the manuscript. It was surreal.
The actual song came about when I was telling someone about Angel Rose and they suggested I write about this experience too. I really love this song and the power of the message, and I often wonder what happened to him. I am working on the screenplay of his story, so I have no doubt that we will meet again one day, and hopefully will find that he managed to find some peace. I really hope he did.
Lyrics:
A slow train ride
A stranger beside me
As night unfolded
So did his story
He talked of guns
White lines and needles
Bikes on the run
But his destiny was sealed
A deal had been done
For the fast life
A devil pact he made
His wife and baby girl
Got lost in trade
I realised from the story told
How he sold his soul
Now I understand
It’s not in the cards
Or some master plan
It’s in how he played his hand
That reveals…..
Chorus:
The truth of a man x 4
There’s no way out
When you’re burning within
No redemption, no way to win
His baby girl grew
But he was locked up inside
To cry alone
When on the needle she died
On the needle she died x 2
Oh she died…
His voice became a whisper
In the quiet of the night
He said if I had a chance again
I’d be a man
I’d fight for her
I’d do it right
But the chance is gone
He never can, never can
So sisters and daughters
Make sure he does what he oughta
Watch how he plays his hand
Cause you want to know
Chorus
Show me the truth of a man
I need to believe it
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
The truth of a man x 2