I received a phone call while I was at work. As I answered the phone, I could hear someone on the other end, but he was so emotional, I couldn't understand what he was saying, or who it was. After a moment of trying to console this person, I could tell it was my brother-in-law, as he composed himself enough to say, "He's gone, James is gone!" James was his son, my nephew and my son's best friend. James had a dynamic personality and was only 28 when a head-on collision with another car took his life... I couldn't stop asking, "Why?" I wrote this song for the service, but I was way too emotional to sing it. This recording of Tim Buppert's vocals & production was played.
Thank you so much, Ditalian! Because this song was written totally out of a state of emotion, (and quickly, to be ready for the funeral service) it was, and is still, difficult to assess the lyric properly. James was working as a field manager for a landscape company and loved to implement the use of sunflowers, thus the depiction on the song’s picture.
June 19, 2018
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I think such songs like this are beyond criticism.It’s touching and beautiful, especially if you know the story behind. Your producer and singer did a great job too.
June 19, 2018
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Frank Renfordt, I agree with your assessment of Tim Buppert’s production and vocals. I called him and asked, “If I can get a rough piano track and vocal to you inside of 2 days, do you think you could email a finished production to me, including your vocals, Within 3 days?” He got it back to me within that time frame and it meant the world to me to be able to memorialize James with this song. Thank you so much for your kind words of approval!!!
June 19, 2018
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Great song and I think I was emotional reading the description before it even started. It’s unfortunate that such beautiful songs can come from very sad situations. Prayers, thoughts and condolences for everyone involved regardless of time. Nice job, vocal work and production sounded great too!
June 27, 2018
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This is the second time I’ve listened to this song—I cried through it the first time I heard it, so I thought I would wait and listen to it again before posting—well, I cried the 2nd time as well, so here goes—I think this is an outstanding song, great heart, and tough subject matter to write about (reminds me a little (thematically) of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. I have listened to a number of your songs, and this is the one that MOST grabs my attention and my heart! Really nice job songwriting, and really nice job on vocals and production—a first-rate song imho!!! Best of luck in all your songwriting endeavors!
August 06, 2018
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Bob Abner, I am so incredibly humbled by your kind words. It’s bizarre, as I was so emotional when this song came together, I hardly recall writing it; I simply kept asking why, why, why? Why are some born poor, others to gold? Why are lives cut short, while others grow old? All these extreme contrasting conditions; why? All I could come up with was, “God only knows.” I’m an emotional person and often times the emotional me writes more from the heart than the rational me. Thanks again for your heart warming feedback!
August 06, 2018
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Jack, I thank God every day that it’s easy for me to feel enough to cry—I always tell my daughter, “Never be ashamed of crying; it just means that your heart is well-oiled and functioning properly.” A couple of weeks ago I went to a 2-hour Larry Gatlin songwriting workshop—he said (condensed), “If you want to be a songwriter, WRITE songs, READ (he mentioned Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Faulkner), THINK (and write down your thoughts), FEEL (and write down your feelings, and EDIT (re-write)—I think both love and pain “tenderize” our hearts—I have a feeling that a songwriter who can’t cry is a songwriter who can’t really write a quality song. Anyway, I do like your songs, and I just want to encourage you to keep writing!!! Best wishes in your songwriting endeavors!!!
August 07, 2018
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written by Jack Speer, vocals & production by Tim Buppert
Why are some hearts warm,
While others run cold?
Why are some born poor,
Others to gold?
Why are lives cut short,
While others grow old?
God only knows.
Why do some bear pain,
While others have none;
Some have jobs,
While some lose their homes?
Why do some live a lifetime,
All alone?
God only knows.
God,
God only,
God only knows.
God,
God only,
God only knows.
I’ve racked my brain,
Searched my soul,
Why did my dear friend,
Get called home?
He was in his prime,
Way too soon to go;
God only knows.
A stranger asked,
“What are you troubled about?
There’s only one who knows,
Let there be no doubt,
There’s not much here,
To figure out;
God only knows.”
God,
God only,
God only knows.
God,
God only,
God only knows.
Some hearts are warm;
Others run cold,
Some born poor;
Others to gold,
Lives cut short,
While others grow old;
God only knows.
Oh, I’ve racked my brain;
Searched my soul,
Why did my dear friend,
Get called home?
He was in his prime,
Way too soon to go;
God only knows.
God,
God only,
God only knows.
God,
God only,
God only knows.
0
Timely subject matter. Beautiful music - right from the start. Touching, well-written lyric. Nice vocal performance that suits the lyric and the music. Great song, overall! I really dig it!
June 19, 2018
0
Thank you so much, Ditalian! Because this song was written totally out of a state of emotion, (and quickly, to be ready for the funeral service) it was, and is still, difficult to assess the lyric properly. James was working as a field manager for a landscape company and loved to implement the use of sunflowers, thus the depiction on the song’s picture.
June 19, 2018
0
I think such songs like this are beyond criticism.It’s touching and beautiful, especially if you know the story behind. Your producer and singer did a great job too.
June 19, 2018
0
Frank Renfordt, I agree with your assessment of Tim Buppert’s production and vocals. I called him and asked, “If I can get a rough piano track and vocal to you inside of 2 days, do you think you could email a finished production to me, including your vocals, Within 3 days?” He got it back to me within that time frame and it meant the world to me to be able to memorialize James with this song. Thank you so much for your kind words of approval!!!
June 19, 2018
0
Great song and I think I was emotional reading the description before it even started. It’s unfortunate that such beautiful songs can come from very sad situations. Prayers, thoughts and condolences for everyone involved regardless of time. Nice job, vocal work and production sounded great too!
June 27, 2018
0
This is the second time I’ve listened to this song—I cried through it the first time I heard it, so I thought I would wait and listen to it again before posting—well, I cried the 2nd time as well, so here goes—I think this is an outstanding song, great heart, and tough subject matter to write about (reminds me a little (thematically) of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. I have listened to a number of your songs, and this is the one that MOST grabs my attention and my heart! Really nice job songwriting, and really nice job on vocals and production—a first-rate song imho!!! Best of luck in all your songwriting endeavors!
August 06, 2018
0
Bob Abner, I am so incredibly humbled by your kind words. It’s bizarre, as I was so emotional when this song came together, I hardly recall writing it; I simply kept asking why, why, why? Why are some born poor, others to gold? Why are lives cut short, while others grow old? All these extreme contrasting conditions; why? All I could come up with was, “God only knows.” I’m an emotional person and often times the emotional me writes more from the heart than the rational me. Thanks again for your heart warming feedback!
August 06, 2018
0
Jack, I thank God every day that it’s easy for me to feel enough to cry—I always tell my daughter, “Never be ashamed of crying; it just means that your heart is well-oiled and functioning properly.” A couple of weeks ago I went to a 2-hour Larry Gatlin songwriting workshop—he said (condensed), “If you want to be a songwriter, WRITE songs, READ (he mentioned Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Faulkner), THINK (and write down your thoughts), FEEL (and write down your feelings, and EDIT (re-write)—I think both love and pain “tenderize” our hearts—I have a feeling that a songwriter who can’t cry is a songwriter who can’t really write a quality song. Anyway, I do like your songs, and I just want to encourage you to keep writing!!! Best wishes in your songwriting endeavors!!!
August 07, 2018
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Ditalian Cole
Timely subject matter. Beautiful music - right from the start. Touching, well-written lyric. Nice vocal performance that suits the lyric and the music. Great song, overall! I really dig it!
June 19, 2018
No members have liked this comment.