The Day You Died

Story Behind The Song

My wife died in 2004. This song distills the essence of the wake of her death in the months and years after.

Song Description

One of my favorite movies is "A Wonderful Life." I loved how Clarence, the angel, said that each person touches and effects so many other people, and when one person is gone, they leave an awful hole. In this song I tried to capture that.

Song Length 3:42 Genre Country - Contemporary, Pop - Easy Listening
Tempo Medium (111 - 130) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Heartbreaking, Poignant Subject Lost Love, Loneliness
Similar Artists Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill Language English
Era 2000 and later

Lyrics

THE DAY YOU DIED
Lyrics & Music by & Copyright by Brian McNulty. All rights reserved.

VERSE 1:
The clock keeps ticking in this empty bedroom.
I hear the echoes in my mind.
The silence beneath it feels like a cold, dark tomb.
Time seems so very undefined.

PRE-CHORUS 1:
In half sleep I've forgotten and have reached for you in bed.
When my hand finds only air I hug your pillow instead.

CHORUS:
Walled-up streams of hot tears burst through & pour down on my face.
There can be so much power in an empty space.
I can't fill the hole you left although I've tried.
All my befores and afters-- they began and ended the day you died.

VERSE 2:
Your place at the table--it whispers of change.
Your vacant chair tugs upon my heart.
A faint hint of perfume on your bathrobe brings pain.
I wonder how long we will be apart.

PRE-CHORUS 2:
We must have been made one flesh on our wedding day.
Because part of me was ripped out on the day you went away.

CHORUS:
Walled-up streams of hot tears burst through and pour down on my face.
There can be so much power in an empty space.
I can't fill the hole you left although I've tried.
All my befores and afters--they began and ended the day you died.

TAG:
All my befores and afters--they began and ended the day you died.
Whoa oh whoa the day you died.
Whoa oh whoa.
The clock keeps ticking.

You had me from the intro & when the vocals started!!! Great song & great voice!!!
I absolutely loved this track!!! The lyrics painted a beautiful picture!!! I can see this in movies, commercials, on the radio!!!

Great heartfelt song and very well produced. I loved the line with the power of an empty space, very thought provoking.

A very powerful song that comes across as a very personal one. If it was not written from personal experience it was very well imagined and interpreted by the writer. Excellent production in all respects.

I think the song is Fantastic.

This is one of those songs, so sweet & sincere, It will bring tears to your eyes - it's a lovely and sweet song.!

Wow, what a tear-jerker. You had me emotionally wrapped up in your song from verse 1. I was so glad it was death and not divorce. This is an amazing song. So original, so poignant, so right on target. It would be good for all the widows and widowers out there to hear it. Excellent lyric: All my befores and afters ended the day you died. Wow that's powerful. Great tune, terrific instrumentation. I definitely want to hear more!

Just about perfect. Even the intro, which some "suit" will say is "too long", was perfect....like the ticking of a clock....very nice sharp production...vocalist just emotional enough without overdoing it...after all...life goes on....arrangement very good...wanted more at the end...great climb to the chorus...kind of a shocker the first time around, but was pretty calming by the end.

This just blew my mind! Wonderful song well played and sung. Lyrics are magical and obviously from the heart. I LOVED IT.

wow I decided to step away from my hard rock reviews for a bit and stumbled upon a great tune..... if your not alredy famous you will be soon

I really didn't just click excellent on everything because I was rushing. I mean it. I love the story, the vocal, arrangement, everything. Great Job, Great Song

Lyrics Brian McNulty Music Brian McNulty
Producer Stacy Hogan (awritersparadise.com) Publisher Brian McNulty Music Publishing Company
Performance Michael Lusk, Brian McNulty & Friends Label McB's Records
This track is on 55 Member Playlists
Playlist Creator Playlist Name Date Added
Roy Elkins Country 2019 11/19/2018
pSchwepker8427135 Best of Brian 2/1/2016
pSchwepker8427135 A Special Performance 2/1/2016
pSchwepker8427135 Beautiful 2/1/2016
pSchwepker8427135 My Top Songs 2/1/2016
Hank Thomas 6-Pack Favorites 11/5/2015
Hank Thomas I Love Country (so sue me . . ) 11/5/2015
PeterSchwepker8937175 Keeps Growing On Me 4/2/2015
PeterSchwepker8937175 Special Listening 4/2/2015
PeterSchwepker8937175 My Top Songs 4/2/2015
Abram Band Best Instrumental Arrangements 3/27/2015
Abram Band Instrumental Wonders 3/27/2015
Abram Band Inspire Your Heart 3/27/2015
Abram Band Best Of Best 3/27/2015
Abram Band Will Move You 3/27/2015
Abram Band In The Wild Wild West Today 3/27/2015
Abram Band Honest Reflections From The Soul 3/27/2015
Abram Band Southern Comfort! 3/27/2015
Abram Band Crafty Lyrics 3/27/2015
Abram Band The Heart Holds Love 3/27/2015
Abram Band Alpha & Omega 3/27/2015
Abram Band Tear's in The Heart 3/27/2015
Abram Band Ballads Of Love 3/27/2015
Abram Band Unique Work 3/27/2015
Abram Band Best Love Songs & Music Sound Tracks 3/27/2015
Abram Band Outstanding Musicianship! 3/27/2015
Abram Band A Tribute to Eternity Together Again 3/27/2015
Abram Band Music With A Orginal Style 3/27/2015
Abram Band Passion From The Pain 3/27/2015
Abram Band From The Fields Of Your Heart 3/27/2015
Abram Band Vocals Are Outstanding! 3/27/2015
Abram Band Outstanding Music & Song Messages 3/27/2015
Abram Band Do You Realize How Good You Are? 3/27/2015
Abram Band Dramatic Works 3/27/2015
Abram Band Lyrics Outstanding 3/27/2015
Abram Band Sent Me 3/27/2015
Abram Band Best Productions Just Amazing 3/27/2015
Abram Band Top Songs & Music Tracks 3/27/2015
Hank Thomas Heaven & Earth 3/27/2015
Criss Rosenlof Country Jam 8/28/2014
Songbird8 heart songs 3/3/2014
Bobbi Wilson My Top Songs 11/25/2013
Julia Schmidt My Top Songs 11/2/2013
Adam Avery My Top Songs 11/1/2013
Penny Lea-Buzz Smith AWESOME 10/19/2013
StarburstRecords Killer Tracks 10/10/2013
musicianswife11 AWESOME TUNES 8/6/2013
Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods Songs that could put BJam on the Map 2/24/2013
MrJackBrickhouse a.k.a Shades Good Music 2/24/2013
Hans Frommer Listen! 2/23/2013
Jim Pollock Damn...Made Me Cry 2/23/2013
Jeff Rauschl Great COuntry Tunes 2/22/2013
Nick Fuse Songs of Confession 2/11/2013
Dianne MacAdam My Top Songs 1/14/2013
Donovan Tucker My Top Songs 1/14/2013

Other Songs By Brian McNulty

Song
Actions
COUNTRY ALRIGHT
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 1,064
Hot and Spicy Night
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 676
When You Said Goodbye
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 638
Buckless
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 461
Living On Empty
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 432
On The Warpath
Country - Rock
Plays: 593
Things We Used To Do
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 203
YOU STOLE MY HEART
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 821
Still In My Dreams
Country - Americana
Plays: 245
(When You Said) GOODBYE--female vocal
Country - Contemporary
Plays: 93
View All Songs
Clean Clean

Clean Clean

Artist Name
00:00 / 00:00