TOPIC: Last Days of Life
A Mother on her Deathbed Says Goodbye to a Loyal Son
A Mother on her Deathbed Says Goodbye to a Loyal Son
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THE STORY
Jen commissioned me to write this song as a gift for her husband Tony in the days leading up to his mother's death. Jen's goal was to honor Tony's mom and to create a focal opportunity for Tony to grieve, when the time came. In an unexpected twist, Tony’s mother died after I had sent Jen a rough cassette of the song and before I had recorded it in the studio. So Jen, a singer herself, got her father to quickly learn a guitar part, and he accompanied Jen while she sang this song, live, at Tony’s mom’s memorial service. A few weeks later, the finished studio version arrived, and provided a powerful and timely opportunity for Jen and Tony to grieve together…
Jen commissioned me to write this song as a gift for her husband Tony in the days leading up to his mother's death. Jen's goal was to honor Tony's mom and to create a focal opportunity for Tony to grieve, when the time came. In an unexpected twist, Tony’s mother died after I had sent Jen a rough cassette of the song and before I had recorded it in the studio. So Jen, a singer herself, got her father to quickly learn a guitar part, and he accompanied Jen while she sang this song, live, at Tony’s mom’s memorial service. A few weeks later, the finished studio version arrived, and provided a powerful and timely opportunity for Jen and Tony to grieve together…
EPILOGUE
Below are some of my favorite comments a note Jen sent the next day:
THE ARTIST
Anna Huckabee Tull is an award-winning Boston Singer-Songwriter with five national releases to her credit, and a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology and Applied Psychology. [More about Anna]
THE WRITING AND RECORDING STORY
The arranger, pianist, and backing vocalist on this piece is Sandi Hammond. Sandi zeroed in on this song like a laser—she knew exactly where to take my rough chording to make the whole thing soar. True confession: when I first heard Sandi play this on the piano, I felt too intimidated to try to sing it myself because I wasn’t sure I could live up to the amazing-ness of what she was doing. Popping a bunch of Quaaludes before the session helped. (Just kidding. True confession: I don’t even know what a Quaalude is).
Below are some of my favorite comments a note Jen sent the next day:
- I have seen my husband cry many times throughout our marriage, but I think that your song was the first to move him to weep.
- It’s an experience—so much more than a song.
- We were both very deeply touched—more than we imagined.
- I knew the song would be amazing, but I could never have imagined it moving me the way it did--and continues to do!
THE ARTIST
Anna Huckabee Tull is an award-winning Boston Singer-Songwriter with five national releases to her credit, and a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology and Applied Psychology. [More about Anna]
THE WRITING AND RECORDING STORY
The arranger, pianist, and backing vocalist on this piece is Sandi Hammond. Sandi zeroed in on this song like a laser—she knew exactly where to take my rough chording to make the whole thing soar. True confession: when I first heard Sandi play this on the piano, I felt too intimidated to try to sing it myself because I wasn’t sure I could live up to the amazing-ness of what she was doing. Popping a bunch of Quaaludes before the session helped. (Just kidding. True confession: I don’t even know what a Quaalude is).
LAST GOODBYE
These are my last days
Gone are my wild ways
Maybe a part of me is already gone
I can hear Billy Ray now, call me on
I hear what he says to me
I hear my Mom, and Stephanie
Ohh, time to fly
Lean in now, Hon, hear my last goodbye
The higher up and higher I get
Sweetie, all the pain gets less and less
I can see all you done for me
I see all your loyalty
And I can see you now, my Baby
See you the way you seen me
All the good and light you seen
Last thing to set me free
Ohh, time to fly
Lean in now, Hon, hear my last goodbye
Seems like there’s less and less to say
But I still love you every day
You make me so proud
Want you to know how proud
Ohh, time to fly
Look up now, Hon, now,
I’ll see you on the other side
© 2006 Anna Huckabee Tull. The rights for this song are filed and registered with the United States Copyright Office as a Sound Recording by Anna Huckabee Tull. Copies of these songs may not be sold or bartered. But sharing? Sharing is all good!
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