This is beautiful and strong and sad (sort of like the portrait of Lilly). Just 23 (and also January 25) are specifics that work so well. The guitar part is exquisite. and the space between "bravely she faced" and "the odds" is powerful.

Beautiful song Rich, incredibly poignant and painful... I hope someone writes something half as beautiful for me one day. The lyrics feel really honouring and poetic. Thank you for sharing this one.

Stunning song, heartbreaking story, gorgeous chords and melody. I didn't realize I was holding my breath listening to it, thanks for this song.

Gorgeous guitar work - clear, precise and lovely. Ooh those slides are luscious. Love those pauses/stops. Lyric and vocal sound maybe a bit Randy Newman-ish. Very nice!

Such a beautiful song with a tender guitar waltz to support your lyrics, your guitar part is really wonderful. There is so much in the lyrics, a push and pull between sadness and strength. The repeated line, "Bravely she faced. . . the odds" got to me. Those odds are often so huge, but this puts them more in a place where Lily was so much more than the odds.

Wow, that is all kinds of awesome. The simple stuff can be the best. 😢

What a beautifully written song. The guitar melody in its simplicity is so moving. I'm glad it's not a personal loss, cuz damn you had me convinced.

Mmmm. Something we never look forward to facing. What a moving tribute. I'm rather stunned by it all. Your song is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Unfortunately, these lyrics are easy to connect with. Realistic and emotional. Love the soft guitar. It feels so perfect for this song. Very emotive and beautiful.

Life can be so unfair, as we all know and that's why I think this beautiful song resonates very deeply and is impossible not to be affected by...

Oh, Rich - I was crying by the second line. That lullaby gentleness feels like a parent telling stories to a child. That way a parent holds the scariness so that a child doesn’t have to face it or not alone anyway. I was moved too by the deconstruction of the language of battle, and the way you let the uncertainty seep in. I’m so, so sorry.

Wow. I have to take a moment. The playful guitar belies the heartbreak yet somehow also makes it more pointed. You are the master of having the guitar sing its own tune along with the rest of the song, and this is no exception. Some evocative note choices, just enough dissonance to indicate something is amiss even without the lyrics.

But man, those lyrics hit hard. You don't pull any punches, smacking me in the face right away with the fact that she died. A lot of times the death is a surprise at the end, but I think it's the right choice here. You let us absorb the story with full, heart wrenching context made clear. "Pretty as can be" with a pause after caught me each time.

The piece feels like a fitting tribute to someone who was lost too soon, but who made sure to live fully during their time. It's so honest and forthright that I suspect it's mostly true. I hope I'm wrong.

Great writing, Rich.

This song is lovely and heartbreaking, a beautiful tribute. I love how gentle and thoughtful and specific it is, while still retaining a little mystery.

Oh my gosh Rich,

Brought tears to my eyes… Poignant, impactful, truly, a bard and craftsman, wonderfully written devastatingly performed… Crushing

Truly, a wonderful tribute of a performance

A beautiful piece performed so tenderly. You never cease to amaze with your touch on that guitar. The opening line of the chorus was a particularly sweet progression. Your vocal delivery perfectly matched the tone in the lyrics. Top notch!

Simply wonderful. What a beautiful tribute. Brought a tear to my eye…

The simplicity of the guitar part here is so beautiful and poignant. I love the short lines and how you've packed so much story into a lyric that looks simple but is far from it. I loved "Was the battle lost/Or was it a draw" and how the song is focused on Lilly's strength rather than her sickness.

Oh how I love your harmonic sensibilities and guitar playing... sigh.. This is a sweet tribute to someone special, with dancing lyrics. So lovely to hear you again!

Lovely guitar and heartfelt story telling. I really enjoyed the almst spoken word set to the harmony of guitar which communicates the song so well.

Great to see you! This is so sad and poignant. It’s got a gentleness in the music that honors the words and her life. Lovely.

Not sure what the story behind this is, but...Oh. My. Goodness!!! What a heartfelt and lovely song. Keep 'em coming! ❤️

Wow when you pause at the odds it was so emotional. Gorgeous and poignant.

This is so sad.... but beautifully presented, so intimate and spare, direct and true.

Beautiful and heroic. For anyone who has witnessed this - your lyrics really capture the whole of it all - the complicated interplay of fierce fighting and living life. Gorgeous finger picking and love hearing your vocals. More!

What a beauty - it feels relaxed and tightly wound at the same time. There's a playful conversationality to the guitarwork, a playfulness, which works wonderfully with the sincerity of the words. Absolutely excellent stuff.

absolutely beautiful. stirring and triumphant and sad. wow.

Wow, this is really beautiful. Somewhere between a celebration and a eulogy, you handled the topic delicately and with dignity.

Anything I could say seems so inadequate. You deliver a heart-breaking story with beauty and grace.

This is so gentle and heartfelt. I love the sound of your voice Rich. You always mesmerize me with your tunes.

Great to have you back! Not much to add to the comments below: beautiful guitar, and your vocal is really characterful.

Beautiful and tender, Rich. It sounds raw and honest and I always love that from your work. Perfectly delivered, and it's always a joy to hear how you play your guitar. Your chord choices and pacing are second to none!

so delicate and respectful..i can hear it being sung at the wake, so much more suitable than a serman. i love the way you play the guitar and the sincerity in your vocie.

this is very touching and beautiful. love that line ‘was the battle lost or was it a draw’.. i’ve always hated that phrase ‘lost their battle’, so a lovely spin. Thank you for sharing

Heartbreaking tribute with some really strong images. Your voice sounds sincerely affected. Sad and beautiful.

A tragic song for a beautiful person. You know where to do the pauses

This is a special little tune dude. Beautiful tribute. Love the dry, simplicity of the recording, it really feels like I’m right there with you. As others have said, that gentle lilting 3/4 is strangely hypnotic and uplifting. I especially enjoy the guitar run behind the words “With kindness and grace / Abundance of faith”. Well done.

This is beautiful. The fingerpicking in 3/4 gives it such a natural flow, and the melancholy in the lyrics feels deeply poignant without ever tipping into sentimentality. There’s a real warmth in the performance that carries the emotion with a lot of grace.

Richaaaay.... What you have here is heartbreakingly beautiful. I love the almost celebratory and joyous guitar playing that elevates the sad reality of loss to a noble place and reflects this persons bravery and love of life. All of this perfectly delivered by your vocals, both sung and spoken. Just beautiful!

sublime melancholy - love the guitar work

Beautifully tragic lyrics, absolutely gorgeous! I love the guitar picking, and the way you sing radiates such deep emotion.

beautiful Rich! So resonant for too many people, heartbreaking and stark but with a warmth brought to it and as always beautiful guitar part

Rich, this is heartbreaking and beautiful. You are channeling so much emotion here from so many others.

Heavy indeed. I'm happy that you're able to release what is on your heart. I do offer condolences to all affected by her passing.

Music is such a great outlet for sadness and sorrow...this is so well done. Sorry for your loss.

Love the guitar passages. Your vocal adds a rich atmosphere. Sad subject, lovely song.

Damn dude. This broke my heart. Sending love your way. I’m glad I got to hear you play and sing but I’m sorry for your loss. Never hesitate to reach out. Love and respect

very poignant