Kohlie Frantzen's reasons for this heartfelt, inspiring
song...
My children's school, the Episcopal School of
Acadiana, I Lafayette, Louisiana, dresses the Table at
Memorial Day and Veterans Day, when our community of
veterans (teachers, parents, children of service
personnel, etc.) comes together to reflect on the Table
and the heroes that are the pillars of our country.
This year (2012), at the request of of our Lower School
administrative head, Anne Johnson, whose son has served
multiple tours and is again serving (Army), I wrote and
performed a song with a pre-K 4 teacher, Katie Fletcher
(Navy) to help discuss the meaning And symbolism of an
empty table.
The song is called, "Grace for
Three," and it is about a mother and a daughter setting
an empty table for dad, who won't be home for dinner.
The first time I saw the presentation of the Table
by the students, I cried- it was the most powerful thing
I ever saw that really drove home the concept of heroics
and the price paid not only by soldiers but by their
families and loved ones. The song depicts the feeling of
what I saw when Katie Fletcher first set the table with
a pre-K 4 girl at our school a couple of years ago.
Download Kohlie Frantzen's "Grace for Three" and other songs at iTunes
LYRICS
Verse One:
A little girl says,
"Momma' Why you cleanin' the dining room? We
haven't used it in over a year."
"Is daddy
coming home from the war?'" she asks, "I miss
him, and I really want him back here."
Momma
just hangs her head down low And she shakes it,
"No." I got some really bad news, my dear ..."
"Somethin' 'bout a battle, somethin' 'bout a
fire Your daddy didn't make it out alive."
Refrain:
Your daddy was a hero He died
for you and me
Your daddy stood up to be
counted And we could be free
Tonight,
we'll dine for two, Say Grace for three...
Verse Two:
Little girl, she starts to
cry, Momma says, "No! Don't you ever shed a
tear.
You and me, We're women and we're
strong, And we'll carry on There's nothing
we'll ever fear.
Now help me set the table,
Tonight we'll do it right. And celebrate the man
that we hold dear."
Refrain:
Your
daddy was a hero He died for you and me
Your daddy stood up to be counted And we could be
free
Tonight, we'll dine for two, Say
Grace for three...
Verse Three:
"Help
me get his boots from the closet, and set 'em
over there, By his favorite chair.
Help me
find a rose for the table, it's the color of
blood, Remember how much he cared.
Help me
put an empty glass down On the table, For us,
he'll always be there.
Refrain:
Your daddy was a hero He died for you and me
Your daddy stood up to be counted And we
could be free
Tonight, we'll dine for two,
Say Grace for three...
Bridge: Always,
everywhere We'll remember Yeah, we will!
Nowhere, no time, no place Will we ever, ever
forget...
Refrain:
Your daddy was a
hero He died for you and me
Your daddy
stood up to be counted And we could be free
Grace for Three
