February 11, 2022

Have Hope

Cleveland, Ohio

Melissa shares a powerful message: have hope, you can still recreate your life.

Play Video

Background

Renovare Music uses the DocSong process to co-write a song with Melissa, a formerly incarcerated woman. Renovare's co-founder Lalia reflects on the DocSong process: "The back and forth that occurred during this session was so fun and interesting. Together we watched words on a page turn into lyrics on a chord chart. Melissa’s message to 'have hope' became a refrain, and the wisdom that came out of her life’s journey a chorus. It’s meaningful, it’s memorable, and we hope it will ring in people’s minds in a meaningful way."

Lyrics

I lived my life to please other people
Completing that checklist from family and culture
But still I wasn’t happy
It all came crashing down
Have hope, you can still recreate your life

The way I lived set a pattern for my children
I put my three kids on the school bus one morning
I said I’d see them that night
But left for seven years
Have hope, you can still recreate your life

Chorus:
Find yourself
Find who you’re meant to be
Pare down your list of wants
Choose things carefully
Know the repercussion last longer than your sentence
Find peace with your decisions
So you don’t have regret
Live your life
There’s freedom in being who you are

To go from this life of luxury and privilege
Illegally obtained, it all came to nothing
A chance for a new checklist
I’m on my checklist now
Have hope, you can still recreate your life

Chorus

These days I’m not in contact with my children
I want to stop generational curses
If that is what it takes
Then that’s an answered prayer
Have hope, you can still recreate your life

Chorus

Have hope, you can still recreate your life

Story Source

Melissa

CO-WRITER

Lalia Mangione, Rebecca Shasberger

PERFORMED BY

Lalia Mangione, Rebecca Shasberger

PRODUCED BY

Renovare Music

Recommended Songs

I Feel So Connected

April 28, 2025

The song reminds us that when we open ourselves to unexpected relationships with the natural world, we often receive gifts far beyond what we anticipated.

Go On Lysette

March 13, 2025

This song tells the story of two friends biking through Mitchell, Oregon who are joined unexpectedly by a cattle dog. “Go On Lysette” is a tender reminder that sometimes the most meaningful companions on our journey are the ones we never expected to meet.

Stars of Laughter

March 12, 2025

Malcolm Brooks, who lives with chronic ringing in his ears, discovers he’s laughing as his friends gently joke with him about his suffering and their own.