Member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers & The Songwriters Guild of America

Member of Nashville Songwriters Association International & Tennessee Songwriters Association International

1996 & 1997 International Society of Poets "International Poet of Merit" Award Winner & "Poet of the Year" Nominee

Elected by the Board of Directors of The National Library of Poetry to The International Poetry Hall of Fame (1997)

It used to be not long ago bad habits ruled my life

They cost me everything I'd known… my home… my job… my wife

That hit me hard… smack in my face… a shocking ice-cold shower

I saw my life one sad disgrace… I had to find my power

I can't remember when it was when first I took to drink

It numbed my pain but dumbed my mind to where I couldn't think

I've toked that locoweed which no one innocently grows

I've climbed the sky… nine miles high… white garbage up my nose

I'm here to say I'm coming clean and I'm hanging on that wagon

I'm feeling good… my chin is up… my butt's no longer draggin'

I've quit 'most everything I've done that made my life turn blue

So now… you nasty cigarette… my only vice is you!

You've scorched my shirts and fouled my breath and singed my 'stache with fire

You've stained my teeth and transformed me into a shunned pariah

I'm snorting mad to stay smoke-free… it's tough and I'm not lying

'Cause if you have your way with me I'll surely wind up dying

I'm here to say I'm coming clean and I'm hanging on that wagon

I'm feeling good… my chin is up… my butt's no longer draggin'

I've quit 'most everything I've done that made my life turn blue

So now… you nasty cigarette… my only vice is you!

You've stunk my house and funked my car and gunked my lungs to wheezing

You've held me up to ridicule and unrelenting teasing

I pray each day to stay smoke-free… I swear I'll keep on trying

'Cause if you have your way with me I'll surely wind up dying

I'm here to say I'm coming clean and I'm hanging on that wagon

I'm feeling good… my chin is up… my butt's no longer draggin'

I've quit 'most everything I've done that made my life turn blue

So now… you nasty cigarette… my only vice is you!

(Man, I've gotta quit these things

They're gonna put me in an early grave!)