NOTE: (TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC ON THIS SITE, CLICK ON THE CENTER CIRCLE WITH THE BLUE ARROW IN IT THAT APPEARS TO THE RIGHT OF THE SMALL PHOTOGRAPH(S) NEAR THE TOP RIGHT OF THE PAGE INSIDE OF THE PURPLE BOX. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE END OF THE FIRST SONG THE NEXT ONE WILL AUTOMATICALLY PLAY. ALTERNATIVELY, JUST CLICK ON THE SONG YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR!)
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A GIFT FROM GOD! (THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG) .............. I wrote "Don't Cry for Me" in January of 2009 after hearing about the loss of one of my parents' friends. I had met Fred and Duane Clark at church. I really didn't know the Clarks very well, and only had the opportunity to speak to them on a few occasions. It was apparent that attending church was a struggle for Fred, as his leg had been amputated and I had been told that he suffered many other physical problems. Sadly, Fred passed away in December of 2008 around Christmas. My mother told me about his passing, and I immediately felt spiritually directed to relay a message to Fred's widow, Duane. The message I was supposed to relay, "Don't Cry for Me", started as a poem. In writing the words, I thought of how Fred's wife must feel to have lost her soul mate of 57 years. I pondered over what words of comfort I might be able to relay to her. When I completed the poem, I delivered it to Duane as God had guided me to do. Duane shared that she was very touched by the message and later relayed to my mother that she read the words to the poem every night before she went to bed. In hearing that my song apparently gave her comfort, I felt led to do something more.... It became inherently clear to me that I was supposed to write a song using the poem's lyrics, the first song I would come to write after a 15 year cessation from songwriting. I have to tell you that God obviously has a sense of humor, however, because I was awakened at 2:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., and many other strange hours in the morning, with ideas for my song's melody. When the music came to me in the wee hours of the morning, I would tip-toe out to the piano in our living room to capture the tune, playing gently in an effort not to wake up my sleeping husband! After a week or so, I married the lyrics to my music, and reconnected with a talented musician and vocalist, Bobby Kennedy. In singing the song, it was clear that Bobby really put his heart into it. When I first heard the finished product, I cried and cried, thanking God for the gift of allowing me to write something so beautiful. I had lost both my brother, Mark, and best friend, Mitzi, to cancer a few years ago and personally understand the disparaging feeling of loss. I have since found comfort in the words of my own song.... When I delivered the finalized CD to Duane, we listened to it together at her home and she told me that it was her "most treasured possession". (The song "Don't Cry for Me" is written using 3/4 timing in its verses and 4/4 timing in its chorus, which makes it a little different - in a good way though! I took the photo that accompanies the song in Destin, Florida, at one of my favorite vacation spots. Ironically, Duane told me that she and Fred also enjoyed the beach in Destin) I've been inspired by this song to write other Christian music to relay messages to people, messages from God. I have purchased studio equipment to enable me to write and create more efficiently. I truly believe the message in "Don't Cry for Me" was meant for me to share with others who have similarly suffered a loss. I recognize that every song that I write is a gift, a gift from God. I want to share God's messages of hope and assurance with the world! May you be blessed and find comfort in the words and music.
************************ Libby :) **************************
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