"My Heart Across the Ocean" genre: Folk
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	Recorded May 2003 ... this is a song for my son Paul who is a Lance Corporal with the Marines, currently in Iraq. It is also available for free download on my web site (http://www.bob-bennett.com).
	CD: CD Single: My Heart Across the Ocean   Label: Bright Avenue Songs Credits: Produced, record, mixed and mastered by Keith Taylor at Custom Taylored Studios (Fountain Valley, CA)
	Story Behind the Song My oldest son Paul went to Boot Camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego in January 2001, graduating that April. He then went to the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton and finished up there that August. Like many young men, he initially joined with the intention of being a Reservist ... one weekend a month, a couple weeks in Summer, a little help with college, etc. He continued in college and on a typical Reservist schedule until we rounded the corner into Fall 2002. As things began to heat up in the Persian Gulf, we knew he would likely be activated. In early March (while he was on his way to Buena Vista Social Club concert at UCLA), he got the phone call ... a short time later he was at Pendleton experiencing that blessed mixture of military protocol ... be ready right now and hurry up and wait. As best as I can determine, he was en route to Kuwait (via Spain) on April 10th and was in Kuwait from April 12-17 before pushing into Iraq. I wrote most of the lyrics to “My Heart Across the Ocean” on April 11, 2003 with the music being finished on May 2nd. On the evening of the 2nd, I did a guitar/vocal demo of the song ... the following week I re-recorded my parts and we added bass and percussion. The recording was mixed and mastered on May 12, 2003. From the very beginning, it was my hope that I could offer this song as a gift to military personnel and their families. I never expected to be on the parental side of this equation ... and I wanted to express that in the song as well as my deep love for and pride in my Marine. And so this is a great experiment for me. I hope the tune gets out there. One of the privileges of being a musician/songwriter is to give language through song to thoughts and feelings that listeners already know for themselves ... to provide a soundtrack of sorts for the seasons of our lives. My fondest hope is that people will hear this song and that prayers will be prayed, necessary tears might be shed, deep love might be felt and the “waiting for return” might be a little easier in the bargain. However the news cycle may run, whatever the media may or may not report ... for those of us with loved ones in service far away, it’s not over until they’re all home. So in honor of my own son and all the sons and daughters of our beloved Country: Semper fi ... and may God keep you in the palm of His hand until we can all meet and rejoice face to face. Lyrics MY HEART ACROSS THE OCEAN WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY BOB BENNETT � 2003 BRIGHT AVENUE SONGS (ASCAP) WWW.BOB-BENNETT.COM I am an American father And as countless fathers have done before I hide my tears in the middle of the night For I've sent my American son to war Far from this fruited plain To the eye of a desert storm So proud of the man he's made of himself Semper fi and the uniform Planes and tanks and satellite phones Flashing across on our TVs But we still have commercials in between The Wall Street scores and the casualties So I pray my prayers as best I can And hold on tight to the notion That all of life is in God's hands And my heart is across the ocean I was never in the military My father served and now my son Sometimes I wonder if it had to be Could I ever do what they have done? But every day I look for hope My fears under my breath For all parents share the same nightmare That we might follow our child in death So many mothers and fathers now At the very start, they were just like me Now their sons and daughters are standing watch On the other side of eternity So I pray for them and I pray for myself With faltering devotion To the One Who shares our sorrows and cares For my heart is across the ocean My heart is across the ocean RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THE FAMILIES & FRIENDS WHO LOVE & SUPPORT THEM

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