2nd Place | “Renegade Saint (You Can’t Make Love)”

2nd Place
“Renegade Saint (You Can’t Make Love)”
Pharon Shiloh
Alexandria, Virginia

I came across a homeless man
At the corner of 7th & Vine
He was wearing an old army coat
And holding a cardboard sign
The sign said he would work for food
I stopped and he smiled at me
I said, “Hey man, I’m a veteran too.
I’ll buy you a meal for free.”
He talked of his life
Over burgers and fries
And he gave me this bit of advice:

(Chorus)
He said, “You can’t make love,
Take it from a Renegade Saint.
You can’t make love,
Either it’s there or it ain’t.”

I said, “I never heard that before.”
I offered to make it a song
And give him half when it’s a hit
He said he wouldn’t be around that long
So I dropped him off at 7th & Vine
And gave him a couple of bucks
I knew I’d never see him again
As I whispered to him ‘good luck’
But when I’m in bed
And the night is dead
I still hear the words he said

He said, “You can’t make love,
Take it from a renegade saint.
You can’t make love,
Either it’s there or it ain’t.”

The song we wrote went to number one
It stayed there a month and a half

(Bridge)
When reporters asked, “What inspired the song?”
I couldn’t help but laugh
I told them, “I only helped it along.
Someone else started the song.”

(Repeat chorus)