If you have been following my blog for some time, you are aware that, as a teenager, I experienced a profound shift in my way of life one Sunday morning, a transformation that occurred within a matter of hours and was ultimately irreversible.

I touched on it briefly in a post in 2023 called “Dear Me”, where the prompt was to write a letter to your 100-year-old self.

In the post titled “Today is the Worst Day of My Life” (also in 2023, and I acknowledge the dramatic nature of the title – lol), I explored the profound sorrow I felt on the anniversary of my father’s untimely death from a heart attack, an event that greatly impacted my life.

On the anniversary of his death this year, I rose early, revisiting the ritual I am forced to observe every August 2nd. It was as though my subconscious urged me to confront those emotions, compelling me that morning to articulate the words that flowed from those feelings.

The previous day, I encountered a news article that I initially interpreted as referencing “Ordinary Echoes”; however, upon further scrutiny, it was revealed to be “ordinary cycles” or a phrase to that effect.

Back to the next morning. With those two words in my mind, I started to think of “ordinary echoes” as memories that pop into your head out of the blue for seemingly no reason, and the beginnings of a song were born. On a side note, I dabbled a bit on songwriting during college and shortly after, so this wasn’t (dare I say it) out of the “ordinary”.

The idea that “time heals all wounds” has always resonated with me, yet I can’t help but feel how inaccurate that phrase truly is, especially after 44 years. While the pain may have softened over time, there are still moments in the everyday that gently remind me of that morning, making it difficult to forget.

I began writing words and sentences as a way to deal with it yet again. Thoughts poured onto the page, and I unknowingly created a song with verses and a chorus that shared a deeper story. The process was healing; each lyric brought me closer to understanding my feelings, turning raw emotions into melodies. It was a journey of self-discovery, where every note reflected my experiences from the day and every day since, and I found comfort in expressing my thoughts creatively.

Ordinary Echoes

They say that time can make it seem,
Like pain was never there at all.
That decades fade and blur,
And one day, I won’t recall.

But time revealed the truth,
Yeah, I knew it was just a lie,
Just words to help a kid let go,
To help me say goodbye.

You haven’t faded from my mind,
Not a single fleeting moment,
Where your memory doesn’t haunt me,
Though I’ve tried so hard to own it.

Maybe that’s just part of growing up,
But man, it moved way too fast.
I’ve lived more life in memory,
Than any hard drive ever has.

But maybe echoes aren’t just shadows,
Maybe they’re the proof you stayed.
A trace of love that time can’t bury,
A light that never fades.

Ordinary echoes, ringing through my soul,
Not loud enough to break me, but too strong to just let go.
You’re the silence in the static, the whisper in the noise,
A ghost in every moment, stealing back my voice.
Ordinary echoes, they shimmer now, like rain—
A memory turned ember, still warming what remains.

I went back to our house,
After years of being away,
Walking the steps to the upstairs hall,
Made those years just melt that day.

I could hear your voice and see your smile,
Like you were really standing there,
How I wish I could change the past,
But only echoes take me there.

But maybe echoes aren’t just shadows,
Maybe they’re the proof you stayed.
A trace of love that time can’t bury,
A light that never fades.

Ordinary echoes, ringing through my soul,
Not loud enough to break me, but too strong to just let go.
You’re the silence in the static, the whisper in the noise,
A ghost in every moment, stealing back my voice.
Ordinary echoes, they shimmer now, like rain—
A memory turned ember, still warming what remains.

So I’ll carry what you left me,
In every echo, every day.

– Moteventure (© Moteventure Music)

After piecing it together into a coherent story, I used some AI tools to transform the lyrics into a real song. When I heard it for the first time, I couldn’t help but feel totally hit with emotions, like I was that 17-year-old again, staring down an uncertain future without my dad.

Because grief and loss are universal experiences that affect us all, I feel compelled to share this song with those currently navigating their own grief. Through this sharing, I hope to support others while also paying tribute to a remarkable man whose absence continues to be felt deeply, even four decades later.

If you’d like to support the song, add it to your playlists, share it with friends and family, and post it anywhere it makes sense to do so. By doing this, you’re not only helping to spread the word about the music, but also connecting with others who might resonate with the sound and message. Consider discussing it on social media platforms, creating a fun event around it, or even recommending it in your favorite music forums. Your efforts can truly make a significant difference in promoting the song and ensuring the message reaches a wider audience.

This is from my heart and soul, and I hope you like it.

Jon