"My biggest dream as a young lad was to one day sing this anthem alongside the choir of the Red Sea that can only be found at Anfield."

One of my favorite songs that I hold dear to my heart is Gerry and the Peacemaker’s, You’ll Never Walk Alone. It is an anthem sung by millions of faithful Liverpool supporters in the English Premier League before every home match. It is sung across many bars throughout the world but is best heard at Home in the great amphitheater that is called Anfield. You can also sing it throughout moments of personal darkness, as it reminds us who to call upon when we go through life’s deepest challenges.

My biggest dream as a young lad was to one day sing this anthem alongside the choir of the Red Sea that can only be found at Anfield. I still believe this dream can become a living reality within 10 years if I choose to get my life in order and prioritize what truly matters. Even though I no longer hold this dream so close to my heart anymore, this song still hits my soul to the core. Below is a sample of the lyrics us scousers sing out loud in every day of worship:

“When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark,
At the end of the storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark,
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
For your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone!”

I was finally able to sing this out loud at the top of my lungs at Carragher’s Pub in New York City where I witnessed a game against the almighty Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League finals. Although we lost the final 3-1, I finally felt like I belonged to a home that accepted me exactly as I was. I also got to go watch Liverpoool play at Yankee Stadium in New York City where they played a friendly match against big time rivals Manchester City, but the atmosphere did not seem like it was appropriate for a soccer match somehow, as it was being played on top of a baseball structured stadium, which made it feel different. I forget if they even played the song before the game but I did not have the courage to join along with the choir that attempted to start the chant amidst the Manchester city fans.

On other days we would invite other neighborhood kids to join us and play 2 vs 2. The games would be more intense and even more fun, as the banter would sometimes get out of hand.