Audio Download: Ricky (Patreon)

Honestly what else can I say about this song that hasn't already been said. It was awkward breaking the news that I've written a song about a living person without any permissions whatsoever. I felt wild and daring like a Basquiat of musicians and also terrified of the consequences.  I've had several Ricky's in my life. The original I met on the first day of Kindergarten. We played on the merry go round one recess and from that point on throughout school, he would appear at different times to randomly defend myself or others.  It's like he was fearless and had this innate sense of fairness. He could spot a bully from across the schoolyard, even if it was a faculty member. A unicorn in disguise.  He would take the paddlings, time outs, or whatever punishment was to be dealt even if it wasn't his fault.  He defended us all fiercely and was a class clown as well.  It wasn't till this year 2021 that I found out how hard his struggle was navigating his own family trauma.  I had no idea, I only knew that one day he was there making us all laugh and standing up to the vice principal and the next he stopped. He stopped talking to everyone, smiling, joking. He was visibly suffering.  I knew something changed, but as a child couldn't process the "why?" of it all.  I understand now. When I wrote this song it was an exercise in foundations. We were to write a song about a foundational memory that changed, helped form or created the person we are today.  Ricky was immediately the first person who popped into my mind.  For all the sensitive kids out there, I hope you had a friend like Ricky who would smile whenever they see you coming, let you win dinosaur tag, make you laugh all the time and defend you till the end.