by Ethan Johnson
May 30, 2007

It is unwise to take the majority of my song lyrics seriously, which is to say, as fact. More often than not, I would get inspired to write something that ends up as the chorus, and then I worked backwards from there to flesh out the story I wanted to tell or the feeling I wanted to convey. I could say that I am first and foremost a liar of a songwriter, but I like to think it's an outlet to explore empathy.

Sometimes I let the truth rip, consequences be damned. What good is art of any sort if it is incapable of expressing honesty? I am not a songwriter by trade, and I don't sit around all day trying to write commercial hits. I write songs because I am inspired to do so, when I am in fact inspired. That inspiration often arrives unannounced, in unexpected ways.

I once had a severe crush on a high school classmate. One day in 1987, I girded up my courage and I marched into the flower shop she worked in (alone) and "proposed". Namely, I proposed that we start dating. I was sick and tired of the parade of "not exactly" boys she dated, she was in-between relationships, and I decided that this was a case of "now or never". I even found it within myself to tell her that I loved her.

We didn't date.

Despite the disappointment, I kept my chin up because I had the guts to tell her the truth, and if she wasn't interested at least we both knew that and I could move on. We stayed in touch off and on, and in 1991 I learned that she flunked out of college and wasn't sure what she was going to do with her life. By then it was too late to try and recapture our failed moment from years before, but I wished her well and hoped that things would turn out for the best. I believe that was the last time we ever spoke.

Moments after I hung up the phone, I sat down and wrote the following:

I love you
No matter what people
may say or may think
or may learn.

I love you
No matter what race
or how old
or what religion you are.

People come and go
but our hearts
keep them safe inside.

And our love
feeds them
and clothes them
and holds them
and keeps them alive.

I love you.

From time to time, I reflect on these words and recognize the power of what we can say with our hearts when we're not telling lies for our own entertainment.

To those whom I wish to impart this message, I will always love you, and you will always be a part of me. I hold dear the memory of you, and as your stories continue to unfold and become known to me I revel in your successes and grieve for your losses. Open your hearts, and receive my love freely as it is given freely to you. And I shall do likewise.

Let those with ears to hear and hearts to receive this prayer be comforted. <EM>