INNISFAIL – It has been quite a year for the town’s legendary rodeo star and country music songwriter.
After being inducted into the Alberta Country Music Hall of Fame last January, the Great Ivan Daines refuses to rest on his laurels, especially when folks are repeatedly calling him for an inspirational boost to blunt the turmoil all around them.
“Quite of few people called me, and then when I saw people they would all say, ‘have you written a song about the coronavirus, Ivan?’, and I said, ‘no, but I probably should and will’ and then my daughter in Colorado when I was talking to her said, ‘Dad, have you written a song about the coronavirus?’ and I said, ‘I will be for you and everybody,’’’ said Daines. “If a song seems like it wants to be written it doesn’t leave me until I write the thing, you know.”
Unable to shake off the song that needed to be written, Daines picked up a pen last month and wrote Ivan Daines Corona Song, a simple but moving three-minute love tune on YouTube for everyone around him and beyond who is reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of the reasons I write my songs is because I believe in them, and I believe in this song and it means a lot to me,” said Daines. “Every line in this song is everyone’s heart and soul, one line after the other. I hope people will accept it and enjoy it because that is what I feel about the thing.”
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Daines opens his creation with an acknowledgement of the urgency, but also of the heroes in the making who are now fighting the crisis and those new ones in the days, weeks and months ahead, despite the growing battle and heartbreak in front of them.
“Governments, factories, businesses doctors, nurses and heath staff,
“Working to help the world that’s now cut in half,
“The world has to come together to do what we have to do.”
And then comes the solution – the unbreakable love from community always willing to bravely step up to overcome adversity in Alberta’s heartland.
“Everyone has to look after each other to pull us through,
“People have the right to say how we feel
“Around the world COVID-19 is spreading head over heels.”
Daines' mission to get his song out had its own trials.
When the COVID-19 crisis was in its early full attack mode last month, he was careful to follow all the provincial government’s guidelines on social distancing. But he persevered and got it done, simply and without any flash mind you, through a producer in Calgary.
“I just played my guitar and sang with a nice little microphone and everything and I was social distanced from him,” said Daines. “(The producer) got it made and so it would make the internet because I am not an internet guy. I don’t know how to do it.
“He has the talent to do it.”
And so does Daines, particularly when giving inspiration to those in need, which today is a whole lot of people worried about family, friends and just about everyone around them.
The famed cowboy added a special bit of hope for the future to end his love song.
“How, when and if we win, we will be remembered always.”
Go to YouTube to listen to Ivan Daines Corona Song
