Recently, I noticed my wife listening to a song on Pandora, something I had heard before and yet could not place. It was a solo banjo piece (called "The Great Remember - for Nancy) written by Steve Martin. Haunting and so melancholy. Several weeks later, just now, I have found that song, and read more about its meaning. Oh my.
Steve has been friends for many years with Martin Short. I smile just thinking about "Father of the Bride" and the way those two made for such a fun film. As it turns out, and I was unaware of, Martin Short lost his wife Nancy several years ago to ovarian cancer. They were married for many years, and together raised their three adopted children. Those kids have done well, one graduating from NYU, and two from Notre Dame.
Steve has been quoted about the song,
“That sounds like a song that could take lyrics, but I actually talked it over with my wife and … lyrics almost come to a listener and that’s why I actually didn’t write lyrics for it, because the mood is so clear in the song. I didn’t really want to ruin it with lyrics. I didn’t want to direct the listener one way or another because it’s such an emotional song.”A touching love story - a great loss - and Steve's song for his friend Martin. All so bittersweet. Such is life itself.
My wife is named Nancy. She has had a brush with cancer, by undeserved grace she is by my side today. This song always sort of stopped me in my tracks, I never want it to end.
Now I know why. I think this melody may always be playing softly in the background of my life. Thanks Steve Martin; blessings to you Martin Short.
Here, the music speaks for these deep emotions in an entirely touching and mysterious way.....
