Masks

A song about being here for each other in our darkest moments. I wrote this during covid. It had nothing to do with my opinion about masks. But as I passed someone on a walk, despite their mask, I noticed their eyes. For a moment, I felt connected to another human being. It warmed my heart. I went home and began to write this song. A mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.

As I wrote, I remembered the night of our daughter Olivia's birth. It was a terrifying experience. She wasn't supposed to survive the emergency delivery. I remembered a nurse whose presence was palpable and brought a sense to both me and my wife that we were not alone. This was way before covid, but being an OR nurse, she was of course wearing a mask. It didn't dampen our connection—the connection was through our eyes.

Then I remembered a friend of ours, Amy, who rushed into our room at 4am, took Olivia into her arms and held both Olivia and my wife. We were able to cry, and eventually to sleep in the presence of our friend who was not going to let us be there alone. She stayed with us until the morning. I don't know if we would have survived that night without her.

This song is our song. The nurse and us. Amy and us. The person walking with the mask and me. You and me. Even in the darkest night. Through obstacles. We are here for each other. We are not alone.

Who'd have known that this is where we'd be?
Broke down, torn apart,
In a bleak, cold night where we can't see what is going on.

We are cold, pulled apart, trying to stay a little warm...

A mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.
When our hands are tied behind our backs through never-ending nights,
Our eyes can still say everything, like...

You are not alone.
I am here.
I am here with you now,
'Till the morning comes,
Close your eyes,
I am here with you tonight.

We are cold, pulled apart, trying to stay a little warm...

But a mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.
When our hands are tied behind our backs through never-ending nights,
Our eyes can still say everything, like...

You are not alone.
I am here.
I am here with you now,
'Till the morning comes,
Close your eyes.
You are not alone,
I am here with you now,
And I still see your smile—
It's in your eyes,
And I am smiling back at you tonight.

I am here with you tonight.