Track 1: "The Architect of Redemption" (TAOR)

Solo — Mary J. Blige "My Life" Style

Intro (Spoken): I used to think my story disqualified me Now I know it was the whole point

Verse 1: Twenty years old and I thought I had it figured Chasing everything that glittered Calling destruction ambition Calling shortcuts survival Called myself grown But I was just a girl Running from the woman I was too afraid to become Two years building something On a foundation made of lies Then the marshals said excuse me ma'am And I watched my whole life Crumble before my eyes

Pre-Chorus: Handcuffed on an airplane Processed like I wasn't human And somewhere over nothing A stranger leaned down and told me This isn't the end of your story I wanted to believe him I just didn't know how long the road was Between that moment And actually living like it was true

Chorus: This is my life Every broken piece of it Every wrong turn Every time I ran This is my life I'm not hiding anymore Not behind the performance Not behind the plan I am the architect Of my own redemption I didn't come here perfect I came here real This is my life And I'm finally ready To let you see How it feels

Verse 2: Fourteen months in Marianna Made my bed with military corners Learned that discipline in small things Builds the foundation for the large Got my GED in a prison camp While the O.J. verdict played on the TV And when they opened the door I walked out different Not fixed Not healed But awake enough To know the difference

Pre-Chorus: I built a company from that wake-up call Ten thousand veterans across thirty-one locations Married the military man Who matched my wounds And loved him best I could Until I couldn't sleep anymore

Chorus: This is my life Every broken piece of it Every wrong turn Every time I ran This is my life I'm not hiding anymore Not behind the performance Not behind the plan I am the architect Of my own redemption I didn't come here perfect I came here real This is my life And I'm finally ready To let you see How it feels

Bridge: At fifty-two I woke up again Looked in the mirror and said I know you I see you The girl who ran The woman who built The wife who performed The executive who held it all together While falling apart inside I see all of you And none of you disqualify me

Final Chorus: This is my life Natalie to Leslie Running to building Hiding to here I am the architect Of my own redemption I didn't come here perfect I came here real This is my life All of it Every chapter Every scar Every season Mine And I'm not hiding Anymore

Outro (Spoken): This is my life I'm not ashamed anymore This is my life All of it was preparation Every fall Every chapter Every year I ran This is my life And I'm finally home