“Every song has a story and, every story…a song.”
Calls Me Dad
To Christy, Olivia, Patrick, Kelli, Emily, and Nick
“To me, you’re more than just a child of mine; you’ve been a teacher and friend at times and you’re the touch of God that heals my broken life.”
Piano composed and performed by Cherise da Cunha for “Center Field”.
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Calls Me Dad
When I finished listening to the original mix of Calls Me Dad in 2005 I knew that was the one song I wanted to be remembered for.
Written in 1999 it was inspired by…well, I actually don’t recall. There wasn’t just one moment or conversation or experience I was drawing on. There wasn’t any drama or situation that stuck out to me. I don’t remember hearing that mysterious voice singing to me. I don’t recall falling asleep and hearing fragments of it as I drifted away.
All I know is this; one day it was not a part of my life and the next it was, permeating my thoughts and feelings and bring me a deep joy I had not experienced with any other Firthian song.
As I reflect on it today, I can see the inspiration for writing Calls Me Dad was not the usual flash but a long and gradual maturing in me to begin seeing that “my children” are not just that. They are good people who are talented, caring, generous, patient, playful, intelligent, delightful, courageous, loving and so much more. I love my children beyond all comprehension but I also really like them. I think I had grown up enough to know what an honor it is to not just be a father but THEIR father; a privilege no one else in the entire world had. I realized that “I truly am the most blessed man I know.”
“If you ask me ‘why the smile’…Christy, Olivia, Patrick, Kelli, Emily and Nick, call me…dad.”