Episode 6 Paul O'Grady: The Sally Army and Me

The Salvation Army used to have an effect on me when I was a kid

and I'd look at the drum with envy and think,

"I would kill if I could just have a go on the drum."

That's what I wanted to do.

At many times throughout my life, our paths have crossed.

There you are.

So, for the last three months,

on their 150th anniversary year,

I've been working with their officers and volunteers...

Vegetable soup.

-Did you enjoy that?

-Fantastic. It was wonderful.

'..on my very own training course.'

Do you know, you're putting off old age with all this.

'I've travelled up and down the country...'

If it hadn't have worked out for me, I could be in your position now.

-Oh, thank you.

-You're welcome.

Look at his size of him.

'..and I've gone overseas.'

Too much.

'Tonight, I take on my final challenge,

'perhaps the hardest one of all.'

He massaged my heart in his hands

-and they were saying prayers.

-Prayed.

Oh, God.

'And I've faced some tough questions from my mentor.'

Whether I've been saved or not.

I don't know whether I've fallen, to tell you the truth.

'Before I get to fulfil my childhood ambition

'of donning a uniform and leading the Sally Army band.'

-Here we go.

-It's fabulous.

I'm coming to the end of my Sally Army training course,

guided by my mentor, Captain Jo.

To be honest, at first, I think Paul found it really surprising

how difficult the job is of a Salvation Army officer

and those who work with us,

but he really quickly proved he was more than capable of giving it a go

and I'm really impressed with him.

It's been extraordinary.

I now know far more about what they do and who they help.

Today, I'm setting Paul his final challenge and I'm really hoping

that all the things we've learnt over the last few months

will have helped to prepare him for this.

It's where we feel some of our most important work is done.

I'll be going with him to a hospice for the terminally ill where

we'll be spending time with people who are literally facing death.

It's one of the most difficult things we do in the Salvation Army

and it's a huge privilege to spend time with people in their last days.

I'm not scared of dying, what worries me is about the way I die.

You know, I'd hate to sort of lose my independence

and be reliant on people.

When I had my heart attack, I died in the ambulance for three minutes

and they brought me back.

And everyone says to me, "Did you see a white light?"

No, I didn't see anything like that.

All I saw was an ambulance driver's fist down my throat

shoving fizzy aspirins into me.

St Christopher's is one of over 200 hospices in the UK.

It's funded by donations and provides palliative care,

nursing and family support.

Around 800 people with incurable illnesses come here every year

and they are cared for in their final days by dedicated staff.

Jo's right, this is by far my hardest challenge.

This is where we do a really key part of our training

and I wanted to introduce you to some people that help us learn

how to travel with people in their last days.

-OK.

-We're going to spend some time with some really amazing people

and learn some really important lessons today, I think.

All right then.

-Hello.

-Hello, Paul. Good to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Andrew.

'Helping me through this training is Reverend Andrew Goodhead.

'He has helped hundreds of cadets do this.'

How do you prepare for death?

Part of it is just having people who are willing to be with you

and, actually, when you get to that point of wanting to say,

"I need to talk now," there's somebody willing to listen.

Not to shut the conversation down,

but is just willing to say, "Tell me how you feel. What's going on?"

People that you're going to meet today are going to be really,

really honest with you and very, very open.

-I suppose that happens, though, as death's drawing closer.

-Yeah.

-There's no time.

-There is no time.

-To play games.

'The first step for me is to meet some of the people on the wards,

'those who don't have a lot of time left.'

Patients are with us probably on average 11 days.

Although some stay for longer than that.

So we're just going to meet Edward.

-Hello!

-Hello!

Hiya. How are you doing?

-Not so bad, mate.

-Can I sit on your bed? Do you mind?

Let me move around a bit.

I see you've got a full house here.

-Are they looking after you here, then?

-Very good.

-Yeah?

-Very, very nice.

-And how are you doing yourself?

-How are you feeling?

-I'm doing all right.

I mean, unfortunately I was in the building trade

and I got asbestos.

-Oh, no.

-Mesothelioma.

Got short of breath one day and they said, "You all right?"

-I said, "No, I don't know," because I was a fit guy.

-Yeah.

And then it got worse.

They found my lung completely full with fluid.

Did it shock you when you found out? It must have.

-It was just out of the blue.

-Good God.

It could lay dormant in you for 35 years.

And this is because of asbestos.

And you're pain-free now at the moment?

-Well, touch wood.

-That's good.

-It's early days, yet.

-Yeah.

These are powerful things, aren't they, these pain blocks?

Dear me, they sent me out the window!

THEY LAUGH

I might have one myself while I'm here!

When the going gets tough, I always think that's what bails you out,

sense of humour and a pain blocker.

THEY LAUGH

But it's great to meet you, it's really is,

and, listen, I wish you all the luck in the world, do you hear?

Thank you very much indeed.

And your lovely family, as well. I'll see you again.

-You take it easy, yeah? Look after yourself, mate.

-Thanks, guys.

Humour, I always found, is the best medicine.

It's true, you know, isn't it?

We'll go off to City Ward

and I think that's where we'll meet Michael.

-Michael O'Grady.

-Michael O'Grady. Yes, your namesake.

-He might be a relation.

-Well.

-You never know.

-Hiya.

-Hello. This is Paul.

-Mr O'Grady.

How are you doing? I'm a Michael O'Grady myself.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, Paul James Michael.

-We might be related.

-Somewhere down the line.

You're in the will!

So where is your family from, then, the O'Gradys?

Oh, were they Cork? All ours were Galway.

It's nice to meet a fellow O'Grady.

We're few and far between, you know! LAUGHTER

So what brought you into us, Michael?

Was it some symptoms you had or pain?

Yeah. And you've had your birthday here, obviously.

Have you had your birthday?

-Oh, is it? Saturday? Are you having a do in here?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I should think so and all!

-How many years?

49 years.

Well, I hope you have a great wedding anniversary

and that the party that rocks the building.

-You have to have a good 'un!

-Yeah!

-Yeah. Yeah. No, have a good 'un.

THEY LAUGH

That's what he's asked for. Well, when the inevitable happens.

That all of the money is donated to St Christopher's.

-Oh, wow.

-Oh, that's great.

Because of everything that they've done,

he doesn't want flowers or nothing.

-He wants it all to go here.

-Incredibly generous.

-Yes, it is.

-It is. You're incredibly brave and all, I have to say.

Oh, but look, it's great to meet you. It really is.

Yeah.

But you look after yourself. Do you hear? Yeah, will do, kiddo.

-Listen, it's nice to meet you.

-Thank you.

-Take it easy.

Tonight.

Can I just take a picture of you?

Course you can! Come on, we'll have a photo.

We've told quite a lot of people over the years

that you're Dad's brother,

So I don't know how we're going to explain this!

-The kids all think, yeah!

-When they ask, here's the proof!

-Yeah.

"See, here they are together, now what more proof do you want?"

-Great, thanks a lot.

-You're welcome.

-Brilliant.

-Look after yourself.

Keep your strength up. I'll see you, take it easy, OK, Michael?

-Take care.

-Bye-bye!

-They're so brave, you know?

-Yeah, when you think about

what they're facing, you wonder if we would be.

-I know.

-I hope we would, actually.

-Facing uncertainty, that's what it is.

-Yeah.

-It's not death, for me.

-No, it's living with the uncertainty.

-Yeah, that's it.

'It's not just those dying that it's hard for,

'it's also the people around them.

'I know what it's like to be a carer. I've been there.'

The carers take the weight of the world on their shoulders.

You forget about yourself, you're not important any more.

The person you're caring for is who,

you know, you give all your attention to.

This is Kay, she's been looking after her husband Len

for six years, ever since his heart was damaged during

an emergency operation when they were on holiday in Northern Cyprus.

Now, tell me, Kay, how're you coping?

-We're coping.

-Yeah.

-Each day is a blessing.

The carer's often neglected, you know.

-You've got to look after yourself.

-I know.

And you've got to stop worrying.

-I know that's impossible...

-That is!

-It's impossible.

It's easy for me to say this, I know, but you have to give

yourself a bit of respite from it and give yourself time.

So how is he coping?

He has dark moments,

because he was very active and the doctor said, you know,

if you need to do something, you do it now, don't wait till tomorrow.

Yeah. Listen, has he got anything he wants to do?

Yes.

For one final time, he would love to feel the sand between his toes.

-You know?

-PAUL SIGHS

-What, a beach?

-Yes.

-Can he travel to a beach?

-No.

-No.

Has he got a good sense of humour?

Oh, a brilliant sense of humour, yes.

-You know I'm playing Fairy Godfather in panto?

-Yes?

THEY LAUGH

Well, I might have my wand with me.

'There's got to be something I can do here.'

The hospice runs a weekly art class, both for patients and carers.

It gives them a chance to share what they're going through.

Hello. ALL: Hello! You're very quiet in here, it's like school!

LAUGHTER

'Kay's invited me to join her and Len today.'

Thank you very much.

It's like school! Do you find this helps you deal with what's

-going on in your life at the moment?

-This is great.

-Yeah?

This is the best thing.

The best thing that's ever happened to us, really.

-Do you all agree there? Do you think this is wonderful?

-Yeah.

When you're at home, you don't want to keep on talking about...

Like, you're ill and...

-Do you feel guilty for that, you know?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

Well, you shouldn't, you know. You really shouldn't.

-The hardest part is talking about death.

-Yeah.

My husband, we've been married for 34 years.

He doesn't want to talk about death.

When you're at home, you hold it back.

You're all dealing with a common enemy, aren't you?

-You know, you're all living and fighting it.

-Yes.

So you've all got a common bond there you can talk about.

-And that must be such a relief?

-Yeah, definitely.

'It's obvious that this class is a kind of release for them all.'

-So this takes your mind off everything?

-Yes.

-Mine all started from having a stent fitted.

-Oh, tell me about stents!

So go on, tell me. You had a stent fitted?

Yeah, and it caught the artery,

-which caused the bleed.

-PAUL GASPS

And he had 72 hours to live.

-So it was a tear putting the stint in?

-Yeah.

-Mmm.

Because I've got six stents. I don't think people realise about stents.

You say, "Oh, I'm having a stent fitted!" you know,

-like as if I'm going for new shoes.

-Mmm.

I've only got half a heart and only 30% of that is working.

-They had to do a double bypass thing.

-You had a bypass?

Did they do a bypass?

They had to, because it was, he either dies,

or we operate and he dies.

It was no option, really.

And when they did the bypass,

he massaged my heart in his hands and they were saying prayers.

Oh, God.

-I mean, that's a story of horrors, isn't it?

-Yes.

So they can't do no more, that's it.

-I can't go for a transplant or anything.

-God.

Thanks to her, I'm still here.

-She's done a good job.

-She has, yeah.

-PAUL CHUCKLES

But this is a terrible strain on you?

Yeah.

I went to bed and had a heart attack!

-You know, it's the last thing you expect.

-Yeah.

And then like a fool, lay there and thought,

"Oh, well, I won't bother anybody. THEY LAUGH

Last time I went to my cardiologist, this'll get you going,

he said, "You haven't got a pulse."

LAUGHTER

But, look, thanks so much for talking to me.

It's really lovely meeting you all, you know.

I'm going to say a word now. You're inspirational.

You know, the carers as well,

just the way you're dealing with everything, you're so brave

and so stoic and if I had a hat on, I'd take it off to you. Seriously.

-And I wish you all the very, very best in the world.

-Thank you.

-No, I do. Seriously.

-Right back at you as well.

-Yeah.

APPLAUSE

I thought they were really brave, the way they're dealing with it,

because how do you talk about your own death? You know?

How do you talk about dying, how'd you face dying?

But before I leave, I want to do something for Len.

-I've got something for you!

-Oh.

-It's called Playa Del Peckham.

Oh, right! Excellent!

'Len can't travel, so the seaside wasn't possible.

'But I wanted him to be able to feel sand

'between his toes for one last time.'

# We're going to Barbados! #

-Right, you ready?

-Yeah.

-Here we are.

In sunny Playa Del Peckham! LAUGHTER

-Oh!

-Can you manage?

Yeah. Excellent!

I know it's not the real thing, but you can sit in a deckchair

and close your eyes.

The Pina Coladas are over there,

and you can put your feet in the sand. Yeah.

This is ideal! We should do this at home!

And here's a Pina Colada, get that down your neck! There you go.

Thank you very much.

Right, I'm going to leave you two to enjoy your time in the sun.

-Cheers, Paul!

-Oh, no, Cheers to you! You're here!

-Cheers.

I wasn't expecting this at all. It's just amazing.

-Cheers!

-Cheers, darling.

'It's a small gesture, but it's put a smile on Len's face

'and that's good enough for me.'

-Que sera, sera. That's the attitude.

-Yeah.

You know? They're ready to face it, the inevitable.

-And you see now why we come here?

-Yes, very much.

It makes you wonder though about our own attitude.

So if you were facing it tomorrow, how you would deal with it?

And when some of the cadets come here, very often,

they leave, not in bits, but they leave deeply moved.

Well, for a lot of people who've never faced death,

this would be horrific.

-Yeah. This would be... They wouldn't be able to handle it.

-Mmm.

But I'm an old hand. We know the Grim Reaper, really.

-You've been through some stuff, I hear you on that, yeah.

-I have.

So I'm sort of prepared for it,

but I should imagine a young officer coming in, it would shake them up.

-Yeah.

-But it's going to happen to all of us.

-Yeah.

-I used to be in showbiz, you know! LAUGHING:

-Oh, did you(!)

I used to do things on the stage,

a slashed curtain and a bit of fire-eating!

It's a wonderful place, this. It really is.

And I think anybody scared of death should come and visit here.

Life's for living and we have to think about now,

not what's going to happen in the future to us,

because as I've said, death is inevitable. But don't dwell on it.

Just get on with your life and when it comes, it comes.

Paul was amazing today and had a great attitude.

And he's absolutely right, it is all about quality of life.

I think the way that he opened himself up

and was available to everyone he met

was quite extraordinary and he's more than earned my respect.

After his tough training,

I really want Paul to experience the lighter side of what we do.

We don't just support those who are experiencing illness,

we think it's important that everyone in their later years

gets the most out of life.

I'm at a Salvation Army-run community centre

and I'm going to an exercise class for the elderly -

and I don't want any cracks because you'll get a slap, OK?

This class has been running for 12 years

and it has over 40 regulars.

Today, I'm joining in and getting to know

some of the ladies who come here.

I know lots of friends - they don't go out anywhere, you know?

You see, that's sad, isn't it?

-It's up to you though, Paul.

-I was just going to say that.

You can just sit at doors and look at four walls

-or you can join these clubs.

-Yeah.

-You've got to get out and...

-You've got to get out and about,

-it keeps you young.

-Yeah, exactly. That's the attitude, isn't it?

And all you ladies, you seem very hospitable.

Well, I'm a new member and you've welcomed me.

-Paul, you can come any time, dear.

-I'm coming next week!

-Come Tuesday because they're having a roast.

-Oh, do they?

Oh, very nice!

One of the oldest in the group is Lily.

-Your 94.

-Yes!

You're remarkable for 94. What's your secret?

-Well, I've never, ever smoked.

-Never?

-I've never got drunk.

-Never?!

I really look forward to coming here.

-Do you believe in is keeping fit?

-Oh, I do.

-Yeah, yeah.

-I do it every morning at home as well.

-Oh, do you?

-Yeah.

Oh, good for you!

As though I was riding a bike - I do this!

-And do you feel 94? No?

-No!

No, of course you don't. This is it.

Oh, well, good on you, Lily, that's all I can say.

Good on you.

'Oh, I can see what difference this class makes to them all.'

Oops!

Nearly took my eye out there, did you see?!

And centre.

'I'm getting the hang of this, all pretty gentle.'

Right, guys, we're going to do our tag dance game.

-Are we ready?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-All right!

'OK, tag dancing. Well, this could be interesting.'

Marching in your chairs, using those arms. Lovely, good!

'Ah, she means chair dancing.'

# I'm comin' up

# So you better get this party started

# Get this party started on a Saturday night... #

'I didn't expect that.'

# I'm comin' up

# So you better get this party started. #

'Right, in for a penny, in for a pound.'

# I must confess I still believe... #

Come on, Lil!

Take your time.

'I hope it's all right but I just had to tag Lily.'

# Give me a sign... #

# Tragedy!

# When the feeling's gone and you can't go on... #

'I imagine this is what a Girls Aloud reunion

'will look like in 50 years.'

I don't know where she gets her energy from. 94!

Yup, 94!

Well, you've done well there. You've done a full circuit.

You have, you've done really well. Incredible!

# When the morning cries and you don't know why...#

The Sally Army believe it's important for all of us

to get the best out of life, whatever our age

and these lot are certainly doing that.

'I can't believe it, me training is over.

'I've learned so much about the organisation

'and the challenges faced by the officers on a daily basis.

'Now it's time for my big finale.'

-Nice to see you.

-And you. Are you all right? Give us a cuddle.

When I first met Paul he told me that he

was desperate to march with the Sally Army band down Oxford Street.

It was his dream.

And I told him if he got his sleeves rolled up

and nailed his training,

then maybe he could be a guest with them for the day.

Do you know what? He's nailed it.

So it's a big day today.

Because you know our Salvation Army uniform

-is a declaration of our faith, that's the first thing.

-Yeah, yeah.

-The S's stand for something.

-The S's stand for Saved to Serve.

So it's who we are and what we do all in one place.

-Yep.

-We don't want to give that to you because that's actually

-a big thing to ask of you.

-Well, it is...

How do you feel about those two S's in your life?

That's a big question.

PAUL EXHALES

Whether I've been saved or not? I don't know if I've been saved.

I don't know whether I've fallen, to tell you the truth.

-That's all right.

-This is the other thing that made me

-question doing this.

-Yeah.

You know, I've done some peculiar jobs in my time, that's guaranteed.

You know what I mean? And I've had a bit of a racy past, I'll admit that.

But if you believe in a higher being then it's up to him

whether I've been saved or not, it's not up to me.

-Do you know what, I would totally go with that.

-Yeah.

In terms of judgement, it's not up to me to tell you

whether you're saved. I am personally really grateful

for the way that you have immersed yourself in every single thing

-you've done with us.

-Well, I've enjoyed it.

I know some of it's been quite harrowing.

-It's kind of like your graduation.

-It is.

All the different things that you've been involved with

and today you get to realise that childhood dream

to march out with the band.

You know, I've been on protest marches and demos in the past,

but I never thought that actually on a Sunday morning I'd be out

there in a Salvation Army uniform marching with the band.

The uniform we've got for you is in the Salvation Army style.

For all the missions I've asked you to get involved in,

this is the most public, this is the most historical.

We've been doing this for the longest time.

It was in 1878 that William Booth introduced brass bands to his army.

He saw them as part of the mission to reach out to the

poor of East London.

Many had never set foot inside a church

and so the Salvation Army marched through the streets

to the sound of the band.

You really couldn't miss them.

Now in the UK they have over 400 brass bands.

There's a little bit of weight on you.

It's a privilege not afforded to everybody.

I know and I'm terrified that I'll make it look a mess

or I'll get out of step.

And on that drum you can have a little bit more fun as well.

-You do know that... There's a bit of...

-I'll be giving it a bit of...

-Yeah.

-You can get a bit of swagger, you know? A little, "Ahh..."

I just hope I don't play for, like, a burlesque group.

Giving it the slow kettledrum thing.

I think you've got to do it your way, though.

-Don't... This isn't a sausage factory.

-Yeah.

-Do Paul O'Grady doing a Salvation Army March.

-Can you smile

-or do you have to be quite solemn?

-You have to smile. Feel free.

I thought we were all very, you know...

Well, it has to be joyous, otherwise who's going to follow that?

So I'm going to leave you to it now to get changed

and then we will line-up with the band and...

But, you know... You know, I don't get stage fright

and I'm a bit... Not...

-Oh, really?! You're nervous!

-Not nervous as such.

I don't know what it is, it's odd.

I just... I don't know. I feel like I shouldn't be doing it, really.

OK, remember you have given out food parcels to be homeless,

you have taught children how to bake,

-you have given food to refugee children...

-Danced with old ladies.

..you have done everything of who we are.

You have the right and we're giving you this privilege for a reason.

-Fabulous, Captain.

-Enough said.

-Well, I'm going to get it on now.

-I will leave you to it.

Would you all like clearing the room, please?

This ain't a strip show. Come on, hop it. Out! Out! Go on, out.

If you want to watch it, you've got to pay.

There you are.

Do I look saintly?

Do I? Or do I look like a tram driver?

I'm not sure about the hat now.

You can't really wear it at a jaunty angle like that, can you?

It's a bit Dietrich.

I've passed. Yeah, no, I think I have.

Well, Jo said I passed with flying colours.

Are they all waiting there for me to come out?

Oh, I'm mortified! I've gone shy.

The can't believe it!

I can walk on to the Palladium and it wouldn't bother me.

It wouldn't bother me one iota.

And, yet, here I am in Oxford Circus dressed as a Salvation Army officer

holding a drum and I've gone shy. I can't...

Are they all out there waiting...? Oh, no!

The shame of it.

HE MUMBLES NERVOUSLY

-Hey up, what do you reckon?

-Looking very smart.

-Thank you.

-I feel like such a fraud.

-Not at all, not at all.

-We'll see you at the front.

-OK.

Are you ready? OK.

'All right, this is it.'

BRASS BAND PLAYS

Oh, this is fabulous!

'This is wonderful, just wonderful.'

'It's a real honour and I can't believe

'I'm finally getting to do it.'

BRASS BAND PLAYS

I'm part of the team and you're there marching with your drum

and it's just sensational.

'The last three months have been an incredible journey for me.

'I thought I knew about the Salvation Army

'but I had no idea they did so much and helped so many.

'Right from the start my training has been a real eye-opener.'

I didn't do any feet washing but it was nice to be able to sit

and chat to them.

'I got used to expecting the unexpected.'

You want me to do a Bible class with children?

'And when things didn't go my way...'

-HE SHOUTS: I'm going to dry, you wash.

-What?

I'm getting on my own nerves here!

Eventually I found ways to make things work.

# Maria...! #

Hey, good!

I'm just here to support him and show him

how proud we are of him today.

I'm really excited to see him finally fulfil his dream.

It's always bothered me that they don't accept people

in same-sex relationships as soldiers.

So I took that objection to the top.

Say you were a same-sex couple...

You wouldn't be allowed to be a member.

But that's upsetting, really,

because I know so many men and women who are gay and lesbian -

they'd be the most wonderful officers.

They could volunteer for us, you could come to our church services.

If you want to become a soldier in the Salvation Army you have

to commit to what we believe.

'One of the most difficult points of my journey.'

Within the organisation they have restrictions, but for people

who are looking for help, they're not judgemental at all.

They'll help anyone, regardless of sex, race, religion, whatever.

'It feels that my work with the Army has taught me

a lot about the issues facing struggling families today.

-I don't deserve to come to come to somewhere like this.

-But you do.

-If your kids are hungry...

-You've got to eat.

-You've got to eat.

-I just think people need to know there's no shame.

-Absolutely.

There is none at all.

It took me to the heart of the refugee crisis

and the immediate help needed there.

What's going to happen to them now?

-Go home, you!

-Just go! Just go!

It's just like a pebble in the ocean - hopeless.

Paul did a fantastic job supporting the Salvation Army and finding out

what they do for people across the country.

'I'll tell you what I have learned,'

that I never really left social services.

'I thought I might have gone showbiz and I haven't.'

So that's very reassuring to me, that I'm still the same person

-that I used to be.

-Yeah.

I'm just an ordinary person doing an extraordinary job.

'The Salvation Army have reminded me

'it's about listening to people as they face the problems.'

I lost all my family. I still couldn't stop.

-We'll have no messing when we get in there.

-Come on, then.

'And supporting them as they come out the other side.'

-You should be proud of yourselves.

-Oh, thanks.

You can see it in their eyes - they got a future now.

I got myself in a bubble. It's like, I don't want to be here any more.

You needed a friend.

'The more you support people, the more it changes you.'

Now everyone's trying to get him to stop talking.

He's been cheering me on all the way through my campaign

to get better as well.

'As I see all these people that I've helped along the way

'cheering me on, I realise I've actually learnt a lot.'

I really appreciate it. Aren't they good, eh? Aren't they?

'It's open my eyes, opened my heart

'and I'm proud to be able to bang on my drum and march with them.'

Well, I never thought I'd march down Oxford Street

and I loved every second of it.

You've come to the end of your journey with me in particular

-and with the Salvation Army.

-I'm quite sad.

-I'm going to miss you.

Come here because I've really enjoyed myself. Honestly, I have.

-I've had a...

-Has it been worth it?

-It has very much.

I loved it. I could do that again.

BRASS BAND PLAYS

I mean, I haven't got my two S's.

But give me time, folks, give me time.

# I used to smoke

# I used to drink

# I used to smoke and drink and dance the hoochie-coo

# I used to smoke and drink

# Smoke and drink and dance the hoochie-coo

# Yes, I did

# But now I'm standin' on this corner

# Prayin' for me and you

# Yes, I am. #