I fell in love with this song the instant that I heard it.  I was already a fan of Brad Paisley, even though country music isn't generally my jam.  But I felt like he had an interesting point of view as a songwriter, was an incredibly gifted guitar player, and sang in a register that I could easily go along with both for harmonies (you should know that I NEVER sing the melody in the car...I am the lead singer at all of my performance engagements, so I happily play the role of backing vocalist exclusively when I'm driving), and melody if I wanted to perform one of his songs.  As it turns out, he didn't write this tune....it was a co-creation by a George Teren and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee, Rivers Rutherford.

By the way, that's something that I think is pretty amazing....I love it when artists write their own great songs too, but isn't it magical that there are these people hiding behind closed doors who aren't quite right for international fame as major recording artists, but who have developed the skill of being world class songwriters?  And their work is just floating around out there as the soundtrack to our lives, and we never even know their names?  This is one of those songs that was born to two relatively anonymous parents but grew up to be a star because another star named Brad Paisley heard it and decided to marry it (and then he had the genius insight to ask national treasure Dolly Parton to add her iconic voice to it with harmony vocals....how could it not become something special?!).  

Anyway, this song has such a special message....one of the finest blends of lyric and melody I've ever heard, and a source of peace and relief when you're coping with the grief of loss.  That's what was happening during this particular performance.  It was June 28, 2020....we were in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines or treatments had been developed, with most of the world still in some degree of home confinement.  An old friend of mine whom I had known from the time we were toddlers was out on a walk with her husband a few days earlier to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air.....and a young driver lost control of her car, jumped the curb of the sidewalk they were on and hit them both at a high speed.  Nate suffered some broken bones and bumps and bruises.....but Jessica took the full force and was critically injured, including head trauma.  She was unconscious and never came out of it, succumbing to her injuries a couple days later, leaving behind Nate, two young children, and a slew of adoring friends and family.  She was a popular teacher at the local middle school, and a faithful participant in community activities of various kinds, and just 42 years old. 

I hadn't been in close touch with her in several years, but had a great fondness for her and her loss hit me like a sledgehammer.  When I did my weekly livestream that Sunday, I wanted to play a few songs in her honor....this was my closing number because it was the only thing I could think to play that gave me any comfort at all about what had happened.  I can't prove that anything exists beyond this physical experience or these physical bodies....but I want to believe that we live on eternally in spirit...that we gain new insight and understanding about the physical life we just closed the book on....that we exist in a state of pure love and complete joy....that those who have departed before us are there to welcome us to this new chapter of existence.  I don't know if any of that is true for sure, but it gives me great comfort to believe that it is....and it gives me some relief to think that Jess is there, still proudly and lovingly observing everyone she left behind here in this world, and living in total peace and joy in her current world, ready to welcome those of us who cared about her one day when it's our time.

The piano part took a little bit of creativity in the right hand to make it match the flow of the tune, but it was essentially just the "heartbeat" syncopated feel rhythm pattern.....and that's appropriate, because if ever there was a song of the heart, it's this one.  Check out my performance from 6 - 28 - 20 below, and Brad Paisley / Dolly Parton's original below that. 

If you'd like to explore my piano method more deeply, my best students use my video courses and join me for conversation and twice monthly Q&A Livestreams in my private community...you can find it all HERE. Thanks.

If the video doesn't show above, use THIS LINK to see it on YouTube

If the video doesn't show above, use THIS LINK to see it on YouTube