………..I’m asked that question alot. I would say “Nothing”……….because I had to, I needed to……it was something that I had to address. It took me a couple of years to process what had happened before I could write it. I procrastinated to the very end. I find that with songs that I feel very strongly about.
It was the last song recorded on the True cd, and happened on the last night of recording at about 9pm.
I had always envisioned Matt Rollings playing piano on it, and I knew that although I didn’t have a third verse written…. I would be inspired by his piano playing, and be able to write the last verse. I did.
What you hear on the recording of “Nothing” is the first take, and the last verse came out on the mic while recording. Because I had to say those things.
The first song I ever heard by you Kevin and it is my all time favourite of yours. I am trying to write something as beautiful and I am sure it will come in time.
A great song by a great bloke.
The first song I ever heard by you Kevin and it is my all time favourite of yours. I am trying to write something as beautiful and I am sure it will come in time.
A great song by a great bloke.
Amy,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It is a very hard thing to write a song like that. I was so afraid that I would not honor her memory correctly.
I hope you find some solace in the song. Although, as i know, there really never is any solace.
Thank you for commenting.
Kevin
Amy,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It is a very hard thing to write a song like that. I was so afraid that I would not honor her memory correctly.
I hope you find some solace in the song. Although, as i know, there really never is any solace.
Thank you for commenting.
Kevin
AmyJul 30, 2009 @ 14:09
Kevin,
The song is beautiful. You did an amazing job of honoring her memory. She would be very proud.
Amy
AmyJul 30, 2009 @ 7:09
Kevin,
The song is beautiful. You did an amazing job of honoring her memory. She would be very proud.
Amy
I saw the post title on MySpace, and actually was coming over here to suggest my faves as “Nothing”, “True”, and “Fear Nothing”.
“True”, as goofy and ironic as this reason may be, I love because it’s authentic. There’s a groove there that feels like my flavor of life on a good day. Good road song, good cleaning-the-house song, good going to a business meeting in Nashville song. Works, always.
With “Fear Nothing”, my favorite version is a live recording I heard somewhere or another, where the audience is singing it back with you, and everything trails off to a whisper before it rises back to a huge cresendo. The energy on that is palpable.
“Nothing”, as you may or may not remember, is one that I first heard when I was pregnant with Gideon, my first (and so far, only). I was on bedrest for most of my pregnancy, and was very weak.
Anyway, I’d heard you had a song that was written for your daughter, I gave it a quick listen, and heard only a few lines in between the weird daze of the head-funk I was in. I heard, “how could I write a song as beautiful…” and “I looked into her eyes and say myself” and a few other snippets.
I thought it was a great expression of a father’s love — and not just that, but being IN love, which is something that probably only those of us with kids can really understand.
I fired off a quick email to you telling you I loved it, and asking what she thought of it.
Boy did I feel like &%@# when I read your reply, listened to it again, and realized the whole story…
That was about a year ago.
Since then, for a totally unrelated reason, I’ve gotten involved in stillbirth support. There’s an organization called “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” that I’m hoping to volunteer for, and it’s comprised of professional photographers who donate their time to go to local hospitals when there is an infant death, and take photos of the baby and the family, so that there will be something to hold later.
Since I’ve gotten involved, this songs has whole new layers to me… and I feel it so much more deeply.
There are a handful of other songs out there that hit on this issue, and apply to that situation, but yours will always be the first I heard.
That song has a spirit to it that haunts me, and the lyric is so simple. There IS nothing, in that situation. There are no words. There is nothing to say at that moment, nothing to do. All you can do is stand there and cry with the family.
You’re a good writer.
I used to like your writing better than your voice,. Lately, though –the last album and last few concert vids you’ve had on the site — prove that your sound has matured now, too.
These days, I absolutely love both, and I expect you to crack the top-10 someday soon.
Your soul shows in your stuff, and that counts. That takes a certain vulnerability as an artist, and it’s not easy.
I saw the post title on MySpace, and actually was coming over here to suggest my faves as “Nothing”, “True”, and “Fear Nothing”.
“True”, as goofy and ironic as this reason may be, I love because it’s authentic. There’s a groove there that feels like my flavor of life on a good day. Good road song, good cleaning-the-house song, good going to a business meeting in Nashville song. Works, always.
With “Fear Nothing”, my favorite version is a live recording I heard somewhere or another, where the audience is singing it back with you, and everything trails off to a whisper before it rises back to a huge cresendo. The energy on that is palpable.
“Nothing”, as you may or may not remember, is one that I first heard when I was pregnant with Gideon, my first (and so far, only). I was on bedrest for most of my pregnancy, and was very weak.
Anyway, I’d heard you had a song that was written for your daughter, I gave it a quick listen, and heard only a few lines in between the weird daze of the head-funk I was in. I heard, “how could I write a song as beautiful…” and “I looked into her eyes and say myself” and a few other snippets.
I thought it was a great expression of a father’s love — and not just that, but being IN love, which is something that probably only those of us with kids can really understand.
I fired off a quick email to you telling you I loved it, and asking what she thought of it.
Boy did I feel like &%@# when I read your reply, listened to it again, and realized the whole story…
That was about a year ago.
Since then, for a totally unrelated reason, I’ve gotten involved in stillbirth support. There’s an organization called “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” that I’m hoping to volunteer for, and it’s comprised of professional photographers who donate their time to go to local hospitals when there is an infant death, and take photos of the baby and the family, so that there will be something to hold later.
Since I’ve gotten involved, this songs has whole new layers to me… and I feel it so much more deeply.
There are a handful of other songs out there that hit on this issue, and apply to that situation, but yours will always be the first I heard.
That song has a spirit to it that haunts me, and the lyric is so simple. There IS nothing, in that situation. There are no words. There is nothing to say at that moment, nothing to do. All you can do is stand there and cry with the family.
You’re a good writer.
I used to like your writing better than your voice,. Lately, though –the last album and last few concert vids you’ve had on the site — prove that your sound has matured now, too.
These days, I absolutely love both, and I expect you to crack the top-10 someday soon.
Your soul shows in your stuff, and that counts. That takes a certain vulnerability as an artist, and it’s not easy.
Thanks for putting it out there.
Jacquie StevensonJul 31, 2009 @ 19:50
Quite the most exquisite of songs… hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking; none moreso, when you managed to sing it live in Ayr, Scotland last year. Brutal I’m sure, but so, so, so very touching and heartfelt. It was a privilige and an honour to hear you….not least for your beautiful daughter,…
You are a true spirit…x
Jacquie StevensonJul 31, 2009 @ 12:50
Quite the most exquisite of songs… hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking; none moreso, when you managed to sing it live in Ayr, Scotland last year. Brutal I’m sure, but so, so, so very touching and heartfelt. It was a privilige and an honour to hear you….not least for your beautiful daughter,…
You are a true spirit…x
lorrainewSep 2, 2009 @ 22:53
I lost a little girl too, this song always brings me to tears, I feel like it was written about the feelings I had when I lost her, speaks to my heart.
Your music makes me cry, laugh and want to dance,you are a wonderful writer and a also a really nice guy.
Lorraine, I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your daughter. The pain never really goes away. Thank you for your kind words. Kevin
Sarah ChiversJun 2, 2010 @ 18:29
Kevin, Nothing means everything to me. I would agree it it one of the best songs you have written – well jointly with Fear Nothing. I never listen to it without crying but good tears – tears of rememberance, tears of love, it is so wonderful. The emotion, the passion, You have no idea how much I play the two tracks. Life changing experiences and so wonderful captured in music. They are my top played on my IPOD. It is so good to remember and hold dear to our hearts. Looking forward to seeing you soon. With love Sarah x
Sarah, Thank you for saying that. You know the story behind the song………and I know your story. Mike will never be forgotten. He is still very much in my memory. I can't believe he is gone. Life has it's twists and turns, and can be very unfair sometimes………..it is hard. I look forward to seeing you, too. Thank you for the kind words.
The first song I ever heard by you Kevin and it is my all time favourite of yours. I am trying to write something as beautiful and I am sure it will come in time.
A great song by a great bloke.
Graham
The first song I ever heard by you Kevin and it is my all time favourite of yours. I am trying to write something as beautiful and I am sure it will come in time.
A great song by a great bloke.
Graham
Graham,
Thanks for saying that. I wanted to write the most beautiful song i’d ever written………….Kevin
Graham,
Thanks for saying that. I wanted to write the most beautiful song i’d ever written………….Kevin
I just listened to Nothing for the first time. I, too, lost a daughter, and this song really spoke to my heart. Thanks for sharing it.
I just listened to Nothing for the first time. I, too, lost a daughter, and this song really spoke to my heart. Thanks for sharing it.
Amy,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It is a very hard thing to write a song like that. I was so afraid that I would not honor her memory correctly.
I hope you find some solace in the song. Although, as i know, there really never is any solace.
Thank you for commenting.
Kevin
Amy,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It is a very hard thing to write a song like that. I was so afraid that I would not honor her memory correctly.
I hope you find some solace in the song. Although, as i know, there really never is any solace.
Thank you for commenting.
Kevin
Kevin,
The song is beautiful. You did an amazing job of honoring her memory. She would be very proud.
Amy
Kevin,
The song is beautiful. You did an amazing job of honoring her memory. She would be very proud.
Amy
I saw the post title on MySpace, and actually was coming over here to suggest my faves as “Nothing”, “True”, and “Fear Nothing”.
“True”, as goofy and ironic as this reason may be, I love because it’s authentic. There’s a groove there that feels like my flavor of life on a good day. Good road song, good cleaning-the-house song, good going to a business meeting in Nashville song. Works, always.
With “Fear Nothing”, my favorite version is a live recording I heard somewhere or another, where the audience is singing it back with you, and everything trails off to a whisper before it rises back to a huge cresendo. The energy on that is palpable.
“Nothing”, as you may or may not remember, is one that I first heard when I was pregnant with Gideon, my first (and so far, only). I was on bedrest for most of my pregnancy, and was very weak.
Anyway, I’d heard you had a song that was written for your daughter, I gave it a quick listen, and heard only a few lines in between the weird daze of the head-funk I was in. I heard, “how could I write a song as beautiful…” and “I looked into her eyes and say myself” and a few other snippets.
I thought it was a great expression of a father’s love — and not just that, but being IN love, which is something that probably only those of us with kids can really understand.
I fired off a quick email to you telling you I loved it, and asking what she thought of it.
Boy did I feel like &%@# when I read your reply, listened to it again, and realized the whole story…
That was about a year ago.
Since then, for a totally unrelated reason, I’ve gotten involved in stillbirth support. There’s an organization called “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” that I’m hoping to volunteer for, and it’s comprised of professional photographers who donate their time to go to local hospitals when there is an infant death, and take photos of the baby and the family, so that there will be something to hold later.
Since I’ve gotten involved, this songs has whole new layers to me… and I feel it so much more deeply.
There are a handful of other songs out there that hit on this issue, and apply to that situation, but yours will always be the first I heard.
That song has a spirit to it that haunts me, and the lyric is so simple. There IS nothing, in that situation. There are no words. There is nothing to say at that moment, nothing to do. All you can do is stand there and cry with the family.
You’re a good writer.
I used to like your writing better than your voice,. Lately, though –the last album and last few concert vids you’ve had on the site — prove that your sound has matured now, too.
These days, I absolutely love both, and I expect you to crack the top-10 someday soon.
Your soul shows in your stuff, and that counts. That takes a certain vulnerability as an artist, and it’s not easy.
Thanks for putting it out there.
I saw the post title on MySpace, and actually was coming over here to suggest my faves as “Nothing”, “True”, and “Fear Nothing”.
“True”, as goofy and ironic as this reason may be, I love because it’s authentic. There’s a groove there that feels like my flavor of life on a good day. Good road song, good cleaning-the-house song, good going to a business meeting in Nashville song. Works, always.
With “Fear Nothing”, my favorite version is a live recording I heard somewhere or another, where the audience is singing it back with you, and everything trails off to a whisper before it rises back to a huge cresendo. The energy on that is palpable.
“Nothing”, as you may or may not remember, is one that I first heard when I was pregnant with Gideon, my first (and so far, only). I was on bedrest for most of my pregnancy, and was very weak.
Anyway, I’d heard you had a song that was written for your daughter, I gave it a quick listen, and heard only a few lines in between the weird daze of the head-funk I was in. I heard, “how could I write a song as beautiful…” and “I looked into her eyes and say myself” and a few other snippets.
I thought it was a great expression of a father’s love — and not just that, but being IN love, which is something that probably only those of us with kids can really understand.
I fired off a quick email to you telling you I loved it, and asking what she thought of it.
Boy did I feel like &%@# when I read your reply, listened to it again, and realized the whole story…
That was about a year ago.
Since then, for a totally unrelated reason, I’ve gotten involved in stillbirth support. There’s an organization called “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” that I’m hoping to volunteer for, and it’s comprised of professional photographers who donate their time to go to local hospitals when there is an infant death, and take photos of the baby and the family, so that there will be something to hold later.
Since I’ve gotten involved, this songs has whole new layers to me… and I feel it so much more deeply.
There are a handful of other songs out there that hit on this issue, and apply to that situation, but yours will always be the first I heard.
That song has a spirit to it that haunts me, and the lyric is so simple. There IS nothing, in that situation. There are no words. There is nothing to say at that moment, nothing to do. All you can do is stand there and cry with the family.
You’re a good writer.
I used to like your writing better than your voice,. Lately, though –the last album and last few concert vids you’ve had on the site — prove that your sound has matured now, too.
These days, I absolutely love both, and I expect you to crack the top-10 someday soon.
Your soul shows in your stuff, and that counts. That takes a certain vulnerability as an artist, and it’s not easy.
Thanks for putting it out there.
Quite the most exquisite of songs… hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking; none moreso, when you managed to sing it live in Ayr, Scotland last year. Brutal I’m sure, but so, so, so very touching and heartfelt. It was a privilige and an honour to hear you….not least for your beautiful daughter,…
You are a true spirit…x
Quite the most exquisite of songs… hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking; none moreso, when you managed to sing it live in Ayr, Scotland last year. Brutal I’m sure, but so, so, so very touching and heartfelt. It was a privilige and an honour to hear you….not least for your beautiful daughter,…
You are a true spirit…x
I lost a little girl too, this song always brings me to tears, I feel like it was written about the feelings I had when I lost her, speaks to my heart.
Your music makes me cry, laugh and want to dance,you are a wonderful writer and a also a really nice guy.
Hope to see you in Scotland soon.x
Lorraine,
I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your daughter. The pain never really goes away. Thank you for your kind words.
Kevin
Kevin, Nothing means everything to me. I would agree it it one of the best songs you have written – well jointly with Fear Nothing. I never listen to it without crying but good tears – tears of rememberance, tears of love, it is so wonderful. The emotion, the passion, You have no idea how much I play the two tracks. Life changing experiences and so wonderful captured in music. They are my top played on my IPOD. It is so good to remember and hold dear to our hearts. Looking forward to seeing you soon. With love Sarah x
Sarah, Thank you for saying that. You know the story behind the song………and I know your story. Mike will never be forgotten. He is still very much in my memory. I can't believe he is gone.
Life has it's twists and turns, and can be very unfair sometimes………..it is hard.
I look forward to seeing you, too. Thank you for the kind words.