SEP 21, 16 .. MEL B 's SONG

Those of you who either know Mel B, or who have been around him, may have heard him sing his special song, ' Once There Were Founders '. 

Grant S, one of my best friends, heard Mel sing his song as we spoke with him by telephone from Hong Kong, China. Grant asked me if I would ask Mel if it was OK for me to write down the words to his song and to post them here on this website.

Mel most graciously said that it would be just fine with him. 

A quick, and at my age of 80, a somewhat humorous aside. Mel is now age 91. Last June and July 2016 my wife and I spent a considerable amount of time with Mel and his wife. During this time Mel and I worked on this project.

Not wanting to cause Mel any unnecessary fatigue, I did not press him to finish our project in anything like a quick manner. So he would ' sing his song ' one time and I would furiously write down all that I could. Then we two would let our project rest for the balance of the day. So I began with part of the first stanza, and helter-skelter parts of others as best I could scribble them down.

Here is what is humorous and what ' goes with ' being age 91. 

First, with Mel singing his song just one time during a session, it took a few days for us to get our first rough draft completed. As Mel would ' sing away ' I would furiously write down the words. After a few days I had our first rough draft completed.


Then in our ensuing sessions, here is where the ' age-factor ' enters this story, I discovered that the words were just a tad different each time. Well ' long-story-short ' the two of us finally completed our project.

Mel B's Song.
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ONCE THERE WERE FOUNDERS

Once there were founders, two men we esteem,

They had a vision a sort of a dream,

And though they had struggles they’d never complain.

I wish they were with us again.

Once there was darkness no answer was known,

Each of us faced a grim future alone.

Then came their vision and new life appeared.

Our founders were with us back then.

Can you imagine their place in the universe,

Higher than princes or kings.

They opened the gates to a new way of life,

And all of the wonder it brings.

Once there were founders, we honor them still,

A doctor named Bob and a broker named Bill.

Dim was the path when their journey began,  

I wish they were with us again.

And over the long years their stories were told,

And lost souls began to return to the fold.

All that they told us turned out to be true.

Our founders were with us back then.

Can you imagine their place in the universe,

Higher than princes or kings.

They opened the gates to a new way of life,

And all of the wonder it brings.

Once there were founders both gentle and kind,

They gave us this program, it’s yours and it’s mine.

When we came broken they helped us to mend.

Our founders were with us back then.

So remember the gift from the founders we love,

With help from our friends and the Power above. 

Each day we have is a journey begun,

I feel they’re now with us again.

Yes I feel they’re now with us again.

From Mel ' B ' with permission.  Sobriety date 15 April 1950.