Everything To Me

[Ray Brookes]

I can't begin to imagine the trauma a parent would go through when a child is missing. So, this song is meant as a kind of lament. It's a bit kinda operatic and a bit depressing I guess but it's a song I just had to write.



My child is missing the police are doing their best
These are the facts no one can change them
They found her schoolbooks and cotton print dress
I told her never to talk to strange men.

She means everything to me

Her picture is in the papers and on TV
Her books and clothes neatly stacked on the shelf
My face is grilled with anxiety
My friends have called with offers of help

She means everything to me

We know that God will give and God will take
I'd give anything to have my baby home soon
My child is missing and they're dragging the lake
Untouched forever shall remain her room

She meant everything to me.

[Groundy]

Wow, Ray, this is superb, so sad, but these things do happen, well done... Alex

[StephenM]

Ray, I just read the lyrics without hearing the music... and this is every parent who loves their children(s) nightmare....the pain one must feel in the soul...you captured the essence of it in lyrics...
now for a listen

must be synth vibe going on in the air right now...ODH, Warren, you, and me all dumped on some syth songs at around the same time (crazy synchronicity huh)?

love the piano work on here and of course your soft and pleasant vocals really make for a nice listen, defying the lyrics.  I like the way you sing to the drums (or so it seems to me)...
big track Ray (as always)

[Greeny]

Masterful in every respect - arrangement, performance, vocal, and storytelling. I love the 'space' you've created. The sparseness of that fruity, rubbery upright bass sound and how it gives way to the gradual flowering of the synths and piano. A fantastic percussion track too. This is top quality and moving stuff. Your songs are always beautifully considered - everything thought through and placed in the right way. Nothing throwaway or superfluous.

[Farrell Jackson]

This is a beautiful yet sad song Ray. You present this so well with the music, words and vocal. You've captured all the emotions, terror and anxiety of when a child goes missing. Years ago we momentarily lost our two year old son in a crowd for just 5 minutes before we found him.....it was the longest 5 minutes of our lives. I can feel that emotion in this song. Well done......

Farrell

[DarrenG / The Devil's Toupee]

What a great song ray, a sad theme for a song and yeah, it must be a nightmare to have that happen. But beautifully arranged and produced, the music is always top notch, whatever style of song you write. I like the way you introduce the instruments gradually in your songs and I've always liked the timbre in your voice.

[tonyc]

first class song ray , love the way you've arranged the song , superb lyrics , and a very sad tale , class through and through , from start to finnish , great listen ......cheers tony cee

[Ferryman_1957]

WOW. Beautiful and incredibly emotional. The music is amazing, so atmospheric. I love the way you build it up to the amazing instrumental part at around 2:50, and then bring it back down. The ending is superb (after the last "she meant everything"), and it combines so well with what you did with the lyric to create that sense of sadness and grief.

Simply stunning Ray. It put me in mind of Georgia Lee by Tom Waits (different musically but similar in its emotional intensity). Do listen to that if you don't know it.

[Bluesberry]

absolutly stunning bit of songwriting....and the music, damn the music....wow

[TPB]

Sad subject could not imagine, the music is fantastic background instrumentation great vocal and the bassline carrying it out
Bravo my friend
Tim