Everyone I Love Is Here

My Dad passed away on February 14th, 2001. He spent his last months in a nursing home. I went to see him several times a week after work. On one visit he told me, "Marc, I don't want to leave. Everyone I love is here." He knew that he was getting old, weak, fading away.

All of his life my Dad was a fighter. And that's not a bad thing at all. Complacency is bad. Dad grew up poor and didn't want to live like that anymore. He hung on to what he had with veracity and won.

When I heard this song, I immediately thought of him. Of course I didn't know all of the lyrics when I first heard it. Perhaps some do not apply to his life. But when I heard the chorus, I won't give in, 'cause everyone I love is here. I could hear Daddy's voice saying that to me.

The song is by a New Zealand duo, The Finn Brothers.

You call me up and I'll say a few words
But I'll try not to speak too long
Please to be kind and I'll try to explain
I'll probably get it all wrong
What does it mean when you promise someone
That no matter how hard or whatever may come

It means that I won't give in, won't give in, won't give in
'Cause everyone I love is here
Say it once, just say it, and disappear

Once in a while I return to the fold
With people I call my own
Even if time is just a flicker of light
And we all have to die alone
What does it mean when you belong to someone
When you're born with a name, when you carry it on

It means that I won't give in, won't give in, won't give in
'Cause everyone I love is here
All at once, and I'll show you how to get here

Come on now, come on now, can you feel it, I can see it in ya
Come on now, come on now, reveal it, turn around won't ya
The right time, the right place, right now, turn around

A chance is made, a chance is lost, I carry myself to the edge of the earth

It means that I won't give in, won't give in, won't give in
'Cause everyone I love is here
Say it once, just say it, and disappear