Tell Me What’s New

“Tell Me What’s New” was written and recorded in my garden-shed studio, July of 2020.

Notes: Brad Peterson releases a new recording for summer 2020. Brad describes the song’s inspiration as such:

“A friend is someone who makes you a better person; a fellow who delights in your well-being and offers assistance in rough waters.

I think we are fortunate if we find such a human in our lifetime. I’m lucky enough to have met one such rare soul, and his name was Vince Waters.

He had a soft and quiet way about him, he was slow to judge, he was considerate and empathetic. Years ago, when I was down, he was one of the few people on earth that cared enough to help me weather the storm; this, when he himself had his own share of burdens and misfortune.

As time moved on, so did I. Happiness returned to me and Vince and I would write or call each other a few times a year, even though we lived some distance apart. He continued to struggle. I tried to encourage him, the way he had done so for me, but I could sense his hope fading and our conversations became less frequent until a time he stopped writing or calling me back altogether.

Selfish, as I sometimes am, I was a little hurt and maybe a bit angry for his lack of response. After waiting for over a year, another attempt to reach out, but again: no call, and no message back. Vince and I didn’t have mutual friends for me to contact, so I started looking for him on social media. There, I happened upon some in-memoriam messages. My heart sank when it dawned on me that my friend had died some while back. I became overcome with a sense of loss and regret -that I had the audacity to somehow feel slighted when I should’ve been a better friend. Enough about me.

Vince loved his children, a good cigar, playing chess, sharing stories, and I especially enjoyed his tales from the sea -when he was most free on the waves and enjoying his passion for sailing.

This song: “Tell Me What’s New” includes elements of those final and unanswered letters that I wrote to Vince. It was written and recorded in my garden-shed studio, July of 2020, and I’d like to dedicate it to him.”

Lyrics:

well, I wrote in that letter
I hoped you felt better
and the rest of the things that you say
and asked you what’s new
did you ever get to do
the things you wanted to ?
it’s been kind of warm here
no rain and the sky’s clear
can’t complain and the days are getting long
how’s it up there ?
Is there sunshine? Is it fair ?
I hope it lessens your despair
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new
how is the family
and are they all healthy
Is everyone getting along ?
I know it’s been hard
to love them from afar
remain true to who you are
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new
wrote you in vain
for all your pain
I remain
write and tell me what’s new
write and tell me what’s new
brother, I know you’ve been blue
I’ve been worried about you
tell me what’s new