Anything Helps
Written By: Christopher Mason

Red light caught me on the edge of town
Cars lined up, sun beatin’ down
There he stood where the sidewalk ends
Same worn jacket, same old wind
Cardboard shaking in a calloused hand
Black ink words that hit like a brand
Anything helps written bold and plain
I drove off carrying his pain

Window rolled up, air blowing cold
But some things cut right through the soul

How did we get to this point
How’d life break down this way
How’d somebody’s son wind up out here
Beggin’ strangers every day
Was it one bad turn, one layoff check
One hurt he never told
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Couple weeks later by the grocery store light
Young girl standing there one Friday night
Hands on a belly, eyes worn thin
Trying to be strong in the shape she was in
She asked real soft if I had spare change
Like needing help was something to shame
Light turned green but I just sat there
With a thousand thoughts and a silent prayer

You tell yourself it ain’t your place
Till mercy looks you in the face

How did we get to this point
How’d life break down this way
How’d somebody’s child wind up out here
Beggin’ strangers every day
Was it one bad turn, one door slammed shut
One dream left in the cold
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Months went by and winter came
Saw her again, but nothing was the same
No baby there, just hollow eyes
Standing in the same red light line
And I still hear that question burn
How many people do we pass and never learn

How did we get to this point
How’d we look away so long
How’d a world with so much in its hands
Leave so many hanging on
Is it their fault, is it ours
Or somewhere we lost our soul
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Light turned green
I still moved slow
Some questions follow you wherever you go