Did you know that the 3rd verse (the dad verse) of my “(I Love You) Too, Too Much” song is a shout-out to military dads? I was sincerely moved when I was attending a conference in a hotel at the same time a military Reintegration / Redeployment program was taking place. I empathized as the families worked through a range of emotions as some welcomed loved ones home, and others prepared to see a parent off for what could be an unknown amount of time. If this were not difficult enough, they were receiving and processing a new report of US casualties.
On a chance series of events, some fellow music artists helped me arrange short performances for several groups of kids in their classrooms while their parents were attending to their own meetings. I've never seen kids so happy to laugh and sing. I believe they could sense the somberness of the adult discussions, and in their own way, they seized the chance to break from the tension they were feeling in the air. When I got home, I modified the 3rd verse to have Dad away from home. It’s just a few words, but I put that verse in there to reflect on the fact that a parent's love spans distance, and dads and kids share that special bond even if Dad is away, traveling, or not immediately available for other reasons. Military dads, you are appreciated. Thank you for serving.