Story Behind The Song
I started out wanting to write a song to sing with my children, Emily and Sean. The goal was for each of us to have a verse but the song became my autobiography so I convinced them to join me on the chorus and at other moments during the song. Don't they have amazing voices? If my daughter, Rose, were still with us, you could have heard her equally amazing voice! Yes, Emily was a handful as a child and she became an awesome, strong woman. Sean nearly died of cardiomyopathy but managed to hang on, survive an emergency heart transplant, and is now an awesome husband, dad, and singer/songwriter in his own rite. I am a blessed woman.....who puts her family first.
Song Description
An ode to families everywhere
| Song Length |
3:58 |
Genre |
Pop - Easy Listening |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Welcoming |
Subject |
I, Me, Mine |
| Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
V1: I grew up the daughter of a righteous father
and a mother who was wicked smart
They met the needs of six mouths to feed
and gave us a great head start
It was always a race to see who got first place
and it wasn't cool to lose
But me, my sister and brothers all looked out for each other
and we still do
Cho: Family first, put the family first
That's the motto we embraced
No matter who, what, when, where or how
Put family first, then and now
V2: Well I broke the rule when I dropped out of school
to raise my daughter, Rose
Her daddy and me just couldn't agree
Well, you know how that goes
Then I met a man in one of those bands
who sang sweet harmony
What more could I ask? Though it didn't last
he gave me Emily
Now there's a girl whose mission in the world
was to keep us on our toes
There were nights when she was so feisty
how we got through it I don't know
Then it dawned on me why she always cried
she was so damned strong
I'm proud to say she's still that way
her legacy lives on
Cho: She puts the family first - family first
That's the motto she embraced
No matter who, what, when, where or how
It's family first, then and now
V3: Then I met a little boy who brought a lot of joy
and rarely ever cried
He had a really big heart - I'm not making up that part
as we can all testify
He hit the wall and showed us all
how to never say die
There were dozens of uncles and cousins
who never left his side
Now Sean and his sister have a missus and mister
and families of their own
We get together whenever and wherever
one of us has a home
I only wish Mom and Dad could see this
maybe they do see
How to this day, the motto stays
"Preserve the family"
Cho: Family first, put the family first
That's the motto we embrace
No matter who, what, when, where or how
It's family first, then and now
Put family first