Before you go Home

[Cpl Rootes]

Not sure where to post this so move it to the relevent thread if you need to.

The song Before You Go Home was written by Dr Sam Bierstock and is a tribute to all veterens of wars (although it is consentrated on WW2 i think)

The story about why he wrote it is quite emotional.

Dr Sam had been away on a cross-country trip. When he arrived at the airport car park and drove to the booth he saw a elderly man sitting there, it was about 1 am and when the elderly man took his ticket Dr Sam wished him a good night. Then to his embarresment and suprise the veteran bitterly said
"I took two bullets for my country and look what I'm doing."
Dr Sam then started driving away but after going about 5 meters he absorbed what the man had said. Dr Sam reversed, wound down his window and said
"Sir, I have had a wonderful life in this country, and I want to thank you sincerely for what you did to preserve our way of life in this country." Saying nothing in response, the man began to cry.

As he drove home Dr Sam was haunted by the encounter and remembered that many members of his family had served in the war his own Step-father was wounded fighting in Italy.

Dr Sam is Jewish and had distant relitives who died in the Holocaust and so Dr Sam started thinking what would have happened if these men hadn't gone off to fight and Hitler won. Maybe Dr Sam wouldn't have been born as his Jewish perents would have been killed. Many other people might not be alive because they are a minority. 'How' he thourght 'do you thank someone enough for the existence of your children, and for all of the freedoms and opportunities that we all take so much for granted?'

The very next morning Dr Sam wrote the lyrics to Before You Go Home they came easily, "from the heart" says Dr Sam. The difficulty came to fitting the words to music. He couldn't decide weather to put them to patriotic music or country music or some other type of music.

He sent the lyrics to professional musicians and composers for films but no-one seemed to take any interest or have any desire to takle the lyrics.

During the summer of 2005 Dr Sam was on his way to a gig with his band. They had a new keybord player, John Melnick, a classically trained pianist and a seasoned entertainer.

While going throught the airport Dr Sam casually mensioned to John that he had some lyrics he needed music for and John said "i'll have a go". The result was 'Before You Go Home'.

With the music provided by John Melnick, Dr. Sam went into the studio with John and his production team, John Catalano and Newell Bate. With Andy Russell on drums, John Catalano on guitar and bass, Dr. Sam on harmonica, and John Melnick providing both keyboard and vocals, and Peter White harmonizing, "Before you Go" became a reality at last.

Feeling that they had produced a very high quality "demo" recording, Dr. Sam and John began "shopping" the song in an effort to interest a well-known celebrity singer, certain that a highly recognizable and popular singer would assure that their message of thanks would be spread more quickly if it was recorded by someone of national stature as a recording artist. As negotiations continued, time continued to pass. Acutely aware that the veterans of World War Two were being lost to age and time at a rate of 1,000 to 2,000 per day, they made the decision to release their recording for free listening on the Internet, in the hope that the message would be spread by those who heard their tune and forwarded it on to others. To enhance the impact of the song, Dr. Sam created a visual presentation to accompany the display of his lyrics, attempting to include as many of the branches of service of the armed forces, the allies, both sexes, and as many ethnic groups as possible in order to fortify a recognition of all who had done so much to preserve our way of life - and our very lives.

Within one week, "Before You Go" was being downloaded at a rate of 400 to 500 downloads per day. By the end of the first six weeks, downloads totaled more than 450,000 peaking at 50,000 per day at one point.

Emails began to pour in, with profound expressions of gratitude for the recognition extended to World War Two veterans by the song - not just from veterans of that war themselves, but from veterans of all of the wars since, people in active service, and especially from the sons, daughters and grandchildren of the veterans of World War Two.

As can be seen by reading page after page of excerpts to follow, these notes contained a common thread. Sons and daughters told of their parents and grandparents never talking about what they had seen or experienced during the war. Just as "Before You Go" expressed;

"You never boasted, bragged or asked For adulation for your past You did the job you knew was right And quietly you cry at night."

Our thanks go to all of those who have listened to 'Before you Go" at www.beforeyougo.us, and passed it on to friends, family, radio and television stations, printed media, religious groups and organizations of all types.

Dr. Sam's and John Melnick's goal from the beginning has been to get this message to every surviving veteran of World War Two while we still have them, to their families and to their descendants. "Before You Go" has had its own life, thanks to all of you who have helped to spread this message of thanks.


A great man, thanks Dr Sam.

some stuff about it:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/31/St..._thank_y.shtml
http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGI...ory_Behind_BYG

LISTEN HERE:
http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGI..._Before_You_Go

[Kitty]

Thanks for that corp.

[Gnomey]

Good stuff!