Don Williams has a song called “I Believe in You” that my sister and I have recently latched on to.  It’s simple lyrics are so sweet and straight forward that the song is impossible not to charm its listeners.  After a few dozen times of hearing the song, I wondered what my version of the song would sound like.  Take a listen to the song , and then fill in the blanks with your own declarations of what you believe. Below I’ve listed the fill in the blank version, the actual version, and my version.

I don’t believe in ______,
_______ and _______,
I don’t believe ______ _____
has certainty of _______
That is ____ is right and ____ is wrong
That ____ and______ can’t get along
That ____ is ___ and ____ is _____
that _________ is always best

But I believe in _____
I believe in ______
I believe in ____ and ____
And I believe in ____

Well I don’t believe that_________
For only those who _________
I like to think of God as ____
He’s down below He’s up above
He’s watching people everywhere
He knows who does and doesn’t care
And I’m an __________
Sometimes I don’t know ________

But I believe in _____
I believe in ______
I believe in _______
And I believe in _____

I know with all my certainty
____________________
is a good thing
It’s true
I believe in ____

I don’t believe _______
Is as common as it used to be
In _______ and _________
that _____ is ____ and____ is ____
That ________ and ___________
Are ____________________
That _______ is _________
In ______________

But I believe in _____
I believe in _______
I believe in __________
And I believe in ____

I believe in _____
I believe in _____
I believe in ____________
And I believe in ____

Actual Don Williams Version:

I don’t believe in superstars,
Organic food and foreign cars,
I don’t believe the price of gold
has certainty of growing old
That is right is right and left is wrong
That North and South can’t get along
That east is east and west is west
that being first is always best

But I believe in love
I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad
And I believe in you

Well I don’t believe that heaven waits
For only those who congregate
I like to think of God as love
He’s down below He’s up above
He’s watching people everywhere
He knows who does and doesn’t care
And I
Sometimes I don’t know who I am

But I believe in love
I believe in music
I believe in magic
And I believe in you

I know with all my certainty
What’s going on with you and me
is a good thing
It’s true
I believe in you

I don’t believe virginity
Is as common as it used to be
In working days and sleeping nights
that black is black and white is white
That superman and robin hood
Are still alive in Hollywood
That gasoline is in short supply
In the rising cost of getting by

But I believe in love
I believe in old folks
I believe in children
And I believe in you

I believe in love
I believe in babies
I believe in mom and dad
And I believe in you

My Personal Version:

I don’t believe in tv shows,
coal mining and puppy clothes,
I don’t believe astrology
Can say who someone ought to be
That is straight is right and gay is wrong
That left and right can’t get along
That more is more and less is less
that being first is always best

But I believe in love
I believe in soccer
I believe in family
And I believe in you

Well I don’t believe that something more
Is necessarily heaven’s door
I like to think of God as love
It’s down below its up above
It’s guiding people everywhere
It’s there when we can’t help but care
And I’m an ordinary woman
Sometimes I don’t know who I am

But I believe in love
I believe in music
I believe in laughing
And I believe in you

I know with all my certainty
What’s going on with you and me
is a good thing
It’s true
I believe in you

I don’t believe complacency
Should dominate society
In working nights and sleeping days
That things are worse when there is change
That violence ever proves anything
And congress isn’t run by greed
That tigers are content in a cage
That beauty diminishes with age

But I believe in love
I believe in sprinting
I believe in children
And I believe in you

I believe in love
I believe in friendship
I believe in springtime
And I believe in you