As one of the only contestants to really have no negative comments last week, Jeremy felt a bit more confident coming into this week's performance. Wearing faded, well-worn jeans, a pair of army boots, and a loose black dress shirt, opened about halfway, he held a Gibson Les Paul in his hands, beginning to strum away as he looked out into the crowd.
"Every time I look in the mirror All these lines on my face getting clearer The past is gone It went by like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way? Everybody's got their dues in life to pay
Yeah, I know nobody knows Where it comes and where it goes I know it's everybody's sin You got to lose to know How to win"
He glanced to the front row, where his wife Iris, and his future-daughter Brynn sat. The pride on their faces as they watched him... it was the best thing he'd ever felt in his life.
"Half my life's in books' written pages Live and learn from fools and from sages You know it's true All the things come back to you
Sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me if it's just for today Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away
Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me if it's just for today Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away "
He could hear the tempo picking up, and knew this next part was key. If he screwed this up? It would kill the whole performance. With a moment of focus, he finally began to belt it out,
"Dream on, dream on, dream on Dream until your dream comes true Dream on, dream on, dream on Dream until your dream comes through
Dream on, dream on, dream on Dream on, dream on Dream on, dream on, ah"
He hit the high note expertly, to his obvious relief, steadying himself as he led right into the finale of the song.
"Sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me if it's just for today Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Sing with me, sing for the year Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear Sing with me if it's just for today Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away "
The crowd erupted, cheering wildly as he grabbed the mic one last time, pointing down to his family. "Iris? Brynn? I love you so, so much..."