Hello all. I am sorry that I haven't been online for a while, I have been battling some health issues. Everything has fallen by the wayside. I have half a dozen songs halfway finished, and close to a dozen paintings at various stages. I just haven't felt up to it. I have one song that I have had in the final stages, so I thought I put it up as is. I can always change things later on. This one was a special song for me, and has been in and out of my mind for years. I guess that is why I still don't consider it finished. Hope you like it.
It is the story of a young boy insecure in his fathers love.

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The Day I Saw My Daddy Cry


My daddy was a hard man. He lived his life just like a war
Every day was a battle. Every year was nineteen forty four
I knew he had his troubles, but he always kept them bottled up inside.
When I think about him now, I think about the time my daddy cried

I turned thirteen in December of nineteen sixty one, the year that Jesus came into my life.
I was filled up on the spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord
then came the time that I would be baptized
I still recall the feelings that came washing over me
though I don't recall exactly when or where
So I bowed my head closed my eyes and I prayed
that my daddy would be there

chorus

Old memories of yesterday,
roaming through the backroads in my mind
rising up before me, reaching out across the sands of time
he never said he loved me,
though I guess I knew it way down deep inside
but the day I knew for sure, was the day I saw my daddy cry


I was standing waist deep in the water
when I saw the church house door burst open wide
and you could have heard a pin drop
when my daddy stepped inside
when he slipped into the front pew
I thought for sure my heart would burst with pride
then just before I went under, I saw the tears
that filled my daddy's eyes

repeat chorus

Good storytelling! I like the chorus and the plaintive feel in your voice: It does well conveying the emotion of the song.

Excellent old classic country. Very well sung and nice melody.
Sergio

This one seriously gave me feels. Very effective lyrics.

Gary… This was awesome! what a wonderful tribute, these types of songs where one is trying to discover who their father really was are always so moving, and this one was done perfectly. I would not have been able to record this song myself without completely breaking down in tears. The composition and production are excellent, I could detect anything that needed to be approved. Thank you for sharing so personal a work as this.

You should be very proud of this one - you managed to make it as touching as it is catchy. Some of the lyrics here really hit me, and your delivery of them in particular make them hit all the harder.

Not a thing I'd change on this one - thanks for sharing!

Nice song, Gary. A classic sound.

Nice tribute, well produced and performed!

J&B

Gary,
I`ll second both the "classic" and "plaintiff" comments already posted. Your vulnerable sounding vocal adds depth to a good story.
A lovely melody too.
Sorry to hear about your health setback... hope you can get back to finishing those other projects soon.

Robert

Moved me here. Now I got tears in my eyes. Sorry, I lost it when you went falsetto.

My daddy was a hard man. He lived his life just like a war
Every day was a battle. Every year was nineteen forty four.

There are a pair of super lines that set up the rest of the song.

Why don't they write songs like this any more? Maybe they do, and I'm just not situated right. Loved it.

You know, I don't really hear this "in church" as much as I hear it in a honky-tonk, in the vein of Lord Help Me Jesus and Sunday Morning Coming Down. Lots of baptized folks there too. That's just my thought.

This is a really touching song.

Nice arrangement and lyrics well done .

Gary, this is wonderful music from a wonderful artist...you!! As I’ve stated before, your voice has a great natural appeal to it that just reaches out and grabs the listener and draws them in! This is a great song and performance! Thanks, Torrey

Very touchy song!! And, your vocal delivery is so passionate! Everything was done just right!! Take care. Greg

Thank you so much. I am so glad you liked it. Be well Ezekiel.

Thanks much Sergio. good to hear from you.

Thanks Ember. It took a while before I could sing this one in public. Thanks again.

Very touching song with that classic country feel. Nicely done.

A real beauty Gary, perfect country in my view. Nice use of vocal oos as well

Thanks Tano. It took me some time before I was able to perform this one in public. I had to live with it a while, but as the man said, "This, too shall pass." Thanks again.

Thank you Deryk. This song has been with me a while, but I finally had to record it. I just hope that I did it justice. Thanks again.

Loved this song. Gary. Reminds me of the songs from HeeHaw and the other country tv stations on tv. Awesome story and vocal. This song would have been a hit back in the day. Well day..

Thanks much Floyd. I have always been a fan of Guy Clark and Tom Waits and Townse Van Zandt. Their brand of storytelling is something that I aspire to. Someday, Maybe. Thanks again Floyd.

Thanks Janice and Bud. I have been holding this one back. I was a little concerned that the religious references might be a little too strong for some. They were important to the storyline and, in the end I chose to go with it as written. Thanks again.

Hi Gary,

I really enjoyed what you brought into the forum with this song. Your storytelling kept me caught up in the song's journey from beginning to end. Really nice work.

All the best,
Noel

Thanks Noel. I really appreciate the kind words. Be well, be happy and keep on doing what you do so well.

Thanks Robert. I'm doing much better now. For a while there I felt like a truck run over me and then backed up. Be well and live long.