Song #3 - Hear Us Now
A few weeks ago I got devastating news that a wonderful young woman I’d gotten to know through Delta Rae’s incredible community had fallen ill and was in a coma.
Two days later she passed away.
Sami was somebody I always looked forward to seeing at shows. She would often volunteer to help sell merch for us, and I believe she came to every one of my residency concerts in New York last year. It meant so much to me.
Before my residency shows Sami would message me to ask for the setlist in advance — she had a disability that affected her hearing, and knowing the songs beforehand helped her follow along. It turned into a pre-show ritual for me and I really enjoyed it. After the show we’d often chat for a few minutes about songwriting and musicals. She was an incredibly thoughtful and kind listener. She’d pop open a transcription app on her phone so she could read what I was saying over the loud room. She loved musicals and was very excited Delta Rae was writing one.
When I heard Sami had passed away I cried. She was so young and the illness that eventually took her life remained undiagnosed, untreatable and unyielding. It was so unfair.
I know how much Sami loved music. She changed the way I listened to and think about music. She had a beautiful impact on my life, and I know so many of us felt the wave of grief and sadness after losing someone this good.
I wrote this song for her last week.
We miss you Sami. I hope you can hear us now talking about you and the ways you changed our lives for the better. I like to believe you can.
Love,
Eric
Hear Us Now
born with a body a mind and a heart
our spirits shine through and betray what we are
and I’ll always remember the way you held on
and showed me the power of song
and I hope you hear us now
the way our love can sound
our broken hearts cry out
I hope you hear us now
some say that angels are legend and myth
some say they’re seldem and few and a gift
i think they’re all true i think one was you
‘cause the room brightened up with you in it
so here are all the songs for tonight i can send
the list is too short and i wish it weren’t ending
but nothing so good can last as it should
and the encore’s all yours my dear friend
and when we’re in heaven we’ll sing it again
we hope you hear us now
the way our love can sound
our broken hearts cry out
we hope you hear us now
we hope you hear us now
the way our love can sound
our broken hearts sing louder
we hope you hear us now
the way our love can sound
you left before you could take your bow
but we hope you hear us now
