Johnny DeFacto

My cousin Brian, (well, he is married to my cousin Joanna), shared with me a very ironic story. Brian, who is a remarkable musician, was listening to some random songs on his iPod, and was triggered. He had remembered a few years back, he had written a song titled "Johnny DeFacto". The song is about if he ever had a son, who was blind.

How ironic, that a few years later, he would be marrying into a family who carries a gene for blindness - and even more ironic, a baby being born into this family would be in fact blind. It is almost like a foreshadowing of events, and I had goosebumps reading the lyrics. I want to share what he wrote to me, and his take on the song, then I will share the lyrics below.

"I am sure you get the message of the song... I used the term "de facto" which means to be segregated by fact rather than by law. Like seperate schools and facilities for those who are challenged or by race, etc. Things that are out there as a matter of fact, instead of legally. I was pretty much saying that he is segregated because of his blindness, but it doesn't have to be that way. And at the end of the song my son teaches me to become deaf to the stuff that we are exposed to everyday from people all around us. "

Johnny DeFacto

verse 1:

the face of deceit is invisible to you
you're innocent and pure, like contrasting whites
so dry those tears from your eyes
and stay close to me, your light
and i'll shine just for you
and i'll paint your pictures

chorus:

don't worry my son
i will be everything that you will need to see
you're safe from illusions that this ugly world can generate on thee

you're hardly left out, so don't count yourself out
i'm guiding your sight by hand
de facto segregated

verse 2:

the warmth from your soul is like therapy
i wash my skin clean of hostility
but hate is still dominiating
it spills from tv
your palms, they cup over my ears
and now you're teaching me


The magnitude of what he has portrayed in these lyrics, from a parent of a child who is blind is beyond what I could ever imagine it to be before I had him. Its incredible he has captured it! Some days, I just hold Gavin and tell him that I will keep him safe from the ugliness of the world, and be the light leading his way, and he will learn that is the only sight he will ever need. I am amazed Brian has summed up my feelings, as well as Troy's. I think it's wonderful to have this in a song, and can't wait to hear it, and can't wait for Gavin to hear it, and understand one day in song how we feel.

Thank you Brian, you are a special person in our family, and am grateful for you! Love you lots....