Story Behind The Song

I was driving across the State of Washington in the Spring of 2017, and decided to call my dear friend in Florida to firm up my plans for the summer. We hadn't seen each other in over 30 years. She was my middle school love - my first love. It didn't pan for us and was probably just as well. We were both incredibly willful and stubborn, and in our youth, we were totally out of control, just wild. Any serious relationship between the two of us back then would have been a disaster. Throughout the years, we stayed close friends but never had the opportunity to see each other again. She got married and had kids. We stayed in touch. In December of 2016, I made plans for an epic 5,000 journey on my Indian. When I travel like this, I usually hit the town we grew up in. Her parents still lived in Burlington, and we discovered that we would be in our old hometown at the same time. I was excited to see her after all these years. We made plans to have lunch - two old friends getting together over lunch and reminiscing about our wild pasts. So, back to my drive. I had pulled off at a rest area on my way to Spokane. I will never forget this. I picked up my phone, brought up her number to call, and realized she was no longer here. She passed away back in February at her Florida home. I was just sitting there frozen, holding my phone. I had already grieved, yet I was still making the big trip, right in the middle of writing sessions with Sean for the debut album, and had forgotten entirely. The first line of the song was born at that moment. By the time I got to Spokane, the lyrics were done. Sean did a fantastic job finding the right music, and I even had a hand in the chorus melody. All of it came straight from the heart. I did go to her grave at the appointed time of our lunch. It was a bright, beautiful summer day. I had two white roses - one stayed there, and the other traveled with me.

Lyrics

Picked up the phone to call you

Realized you were gone

Restless tiger in your cage

Did you decide to move on?



Still, remember the summertime

When your lips first touched mine

Playing in the dead of night

Love was painful by design



I said I miss you

Then you were gone

Flying with the angels

A morning without a dawn



You are the ghost from the river

You are the haunted dream

Always the hidden sliver darling

An end we can not foresee



I said I miss you

Then you were gone

Flying with the angels

A morning without a dawn



I said I miss you

Then you were gone

Flying with the angels

Mourning without a dawn