Look at that.  Does it get any better than that!

This is a photo of me and Jackie Gayheart.

Many years ago I stopped in on her just to say hello at her new digs in Ramsey.  Jackie is the mother of my dear friend Marc Gayheart and his precious siblings.

On that visit to see Jackie, we talked of old days and present days.  She left the room.  She came back with a piece of paper.  She knew I was making music.  She knew I was writing and recording songs.  Jackie handed me a piece of paper with what she deemed as song lyrics.  It made me nervous.  I was early in my musical journey.  This piece of paper, while delighted to be handed, was nothing I wanted to be a part of.  How could I get this right?  That is what I asked myself.  And that was that.

This piece of paper was always within arm’s reach in my home office.  I looked at it many times for many years.

One day I looked at it and grabbed my guitar.  And good things happened.  I recorded this song with just me and the guitar at Jeff Carpenter’s Al Fresco’s Place Recording Studio in Louisville.

I made this recording for Jackie and her family.  I saw to it that many CDs of this recording were passed on.  And on a Tuesday in May in 2018 at a Harrison County Hymn Sing, I sang this song at Unity Chapel UMC.  I will never forget the look on Jackie’s face as I was singing.  I looked at her and gave a her a nod.  Priceless.  Thankful.  Amen.

The recording I handed off to the family was comprised of the following intro and corresponding lyrics.  Jackie wrote the words and I wrote the tune.

How’s it going group?  This is Danny Johnson and I am coming to you from Al Fresco’s Place Recording Studio.  Jeff Carpenter is on the board, a very near and dear friend, and we are going to record a song that Jackie Gayheart handed to me many years ago.  The day she handed it to me I had a silent scream on my face because she asked me to put some music to it and at the time I was not very comfortable doing that.  Things change.  I found this song recently and was delighted that I did and about fifteen minutes later it was complete.  I hope you enjoy it.  Jackie, I hope you enjoy it as well.   

Then I played the tune.

Going Home   (Words by Jackie Gayheart and Music by Danny Johnson)

When we think about the future the present and the past

We know this is fleeting and it’s never going to last

But we know our home in heaven will be ours forevermore

We will be there for eternity upon those peaceful shores

Chorus                                                                                                                                     Going Home…Going Home

We’re just travelling down life’s highway going home

When our life on earth is over and we cease this world to roam

We’re going home…just going home…going home.

We have all have trials and temptations in our life’s every day

Yet we must follow Jesus and walk steady in His way

We look forward to our meeting with our savior by and by

When we’re called up there to rest in our mansion in the sky

Repeat Chorus

Bridge

So walk carefully down this road of life and don’t forget to pray

There will always be a reckoning on that final day

Walk closely to the savior and hold tightly to His hand

Until the day we finally reach that blessed promised land

Repeat Chorus

I dug this CD out tonight and listened to it. I found out today that Jackie passed away on January 13th.  It was the best demo recording I ever made.  That means just me and the guitar and that’s it.  I am proud of this recording.  Without Jackie and her kind eyes and words, it would have never been. I am so blessed.

So today I mourn the loss of my first musical co-writer and loving soul to all.

For the record, thank you Jackie.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson