I've been very lucky to meet some very fine people while being a radio announcer. I'm fairly new (the last four or five years, in a career which began in 1983) to the country music genre, but one of the things that's easy to notice is the - for lack of a better word - quality of people among the artists who work in the field. Humble, decent, fun-loving, honest, family-oriented people who are a credit to their profession.
One of the people who I've yet to meet, but have recently spoken with by phone, has impressed me as much as any, and more than most. It is no surprise to me that Paul Brandt - himself such a wonderful guy I'd be way off the topic if I started praising him in this column to the degree he deserves - is a good friend of his.
I'm talking about Aaron Lines.
Aaron recently had his heart broken by a story he saw on the news.
He's certainly not alone in that. Many of us have had the same experience.
However, Aaron managed to put pen to paper - and then, his words to music - and compose a beautiful song about it.
I've included the lyrics here, and I welcome you to go to his website, aaronlines.com, and read more, and find out more about Aaron. I've added a direct link to his site in my Links column on the right.
In what Aaron considers the greatest honour of his career, the song he wrote - 'Somebody’s Son' - is being played at every 'Welcome Home' ceremony for American soldiers who arrive back to their posts after fulfilling their tour of duty in Iraq.
It's replacing the song they’ve been using for years, Toby Keith’s 'American Soldier'. Pretty great stuff for a singer/songwriter from Alberta.
With Aaron's permission (and with thanks to Brenda McKeever, who represents him), I am presenting the lyrics for this inspiring and beautiful song here:
Please click on the above picture so you can read the lyrics.I've mentioned before here that my father was a military man. Maurice Edward Biggs was in the Royal Canadian Navy, and fought in both the Second World War and the Korean War. He was a very decorated Chief Petty Officer after the fact, because he sailed on Minesweepers in front of the Canadian Fleet.
More importantly, he made it home alive, and started a family with Margaret Raith Smith. Had he not made it home alive, neither I, nor Liam and Morgan would even exist. Thank you, Dad, for helping to defend this country, and our freedom.
Indeed, thank you to each and every member of every branch of the Canadian Military, both past and present, for helping to keep this country free.
...and thank you to our American friends who do the same for their country, and for recognizing in a Canadian boy's song, the power of love and recognition of the cold hard facts of war - and its affect on families everywhere.
At the centre of the message of Aaron's song is not having the capacity for the grief which would come if it were indeed his own son who gave up his life in the name of 'winning a war'.
To that end, the song grips me every time I think of my son
and my little girl
and my everything
and I am always brought back to this man
Thank you Aaron, for this beautiful piece of music. My hope is for the entire world to someday hear - and understand - its message.
***I recently received a note from Brenda McKeever, from Aaron's management team, who tells me that there's now a link to this page from Aaron's website.
An unexpected honour, Brenda. Thank you.***
