The Truly Magic Gift of the Song: "Sail Him Home"
First and foremost, I'm a songwriter. I'm published in both Nashville and London, England, U.K. Twenty something years ago I wrote a song called "Sarah". I say I wrote it, however, it was given to me. The words came into my brain like I was listening to a radio. I had to write them down as fast as I could, or I would lose them forever. This song I was being given was from the spirit of a Civil War soldier telling me his story from nearly 150 years prior. He only had a brief amount of time to relate it to me. He could only do this for so long. It took a lot of his energy to stay and see it through.
You're free to call me crazy, but that's what happened and who gave it to me.
"Sail Him Home" was the same thing.
On September 2nd 2023, I woke up a little before 8, went downstairs and made some coffee. When the coffee was ready, I went to the music room and turned on the computer to catch up on the day's events.
The computer came on and my jaw dropped. Jimmy Buffett had passed away only a few hours earlier.
I was shocked.
I read the piece, as well as looked at other sources as well. After about fifteen minutes I grabbed my guitar.
I had been in cancer chemo therapy since the beginning of the year. As it was, I had an effect from it, loosely called "Chemo Brain". In my case I wasn't creative at all. While I could play my guitar, coming up with new, creative ideas was futile. I had not written a song since the previous December.
That morning, magic happened however. I hit a couple of chords and I was off to the races!
The theme of the song was based on Jimmy Buffett being a sailor. Of course, Jimmy was a sailor, after all. The first line just popped in out of nowhere.
"Sail Him Home on that schooner from Heaven."
After that everything just fell into place very quickly. Just like "Sarah", I couldn't write the words fast enough. The lyrics were being given to me, I only guided them into the structure of the music foundation. In less than 15 minutes the song was done, arrangement and all.
(Note: I came off chemo not long after, however it wasn't until three months later that I was off "Chemo Brain" and could write another song. How this song emerged... Your guess is as good as mine)
The song was given to me. It was a gift, not only to me, but to all I could play it for.
Writing a song is one thing. For me, learning how to play it is something entirely different. This song somehow, I learned quite quickly. I went over it a few times and said "This is really strange, but I think I can do it justice on Facebook live".
I played it on Facebook Live that day and it worked out quite well, actually!
In 48 hours it exceeded 10,000 views.
The spirit who gave me this song, never told me who they were. The same was true with "Sarah". Like the spirit in "Sarah", the spirit in "Sail Him Home" only had a very short time to relate, so they kept it to a minimum. Short and simple.
"Sail Him Home" is on the TRMA Ballot for both Song of The Year and Single of the year.
Feel free to vote for both!!! 👍
SAIL HIM HOME
SAIL HIM HOME ON THAT SCOONER FROM HEAVEN
SAIL HIM HOME ON THE SEAS KNOWS SO WELL
SAIL HIM HOME, BACK HOME TO THE ISLANDS
SAIL HIM HOME TO THE TROPICS HE LOVED
FLYING PLANES, WRITING BOOKS
HIS STORIES AND SONGS PEPPERED WITH HEROES AND CROOKS
TALES OF SURFING THROUGH A HURRICANE
EVEN GETTING SHOT AT IN HIS SEA PLANE
<chorus>
AND WE KNOW HIS ROAD HAS COME TO IT’S END
BUT IT CONTINUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
LIVES TOUCHED, OFTEN WITHIN
MAKES US SO GRATEFUL, IN THE END
<instrumental>
SO SAIL HIM HOME ON THAT SCOONER FROM HEAVEN
SAIL HIM HOME ON THE SEAS HE KNOWS SO WELL
SAIL HIM HOME, BACK HOME TO THE ISLANDS
'CAUSE BEING IN THE ISLANDS IS WHAT HE LOVED SO WELL
'CAUSE BEING IN THE ISLANDS IS WHAT HE LOVED SO WELL
YEAH, BEING IN THE ISLANDS IS WHAT HE LOVED...
WHAT HE LOVED SO WELL
© 9/2/2023 Christopher R. Rehm - BMI Ian Shaw - Producer, Denis Blackham - Mastering.
Production Music
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