Veteran-Written Tune Spotlights Harrowing Reality of Homelessness in “I’m Still Here” — Out Now
Nashville-based nonprofit CreatiVets and Big Machine Label Group‘s campaign to release a new veteran-written track on the 20th of every month — paying tribute to the 20 veterans and active-duty members that commit suicide every single day — continues with their latest poignant tune, “I’m Still Here,” available now across all major streaming platforms.
Studies show that nearly 40,000 veterans go without shelter in the U.S. on any given night, accounting for 11% of homeless adults across the nation. Now, CreatiVets is shining a light on this staggering statistic by giving listeners a first-hand look at what life is like for these servicemen and women. Written by Army veteran Miguel David DeJesus, alongside songwriter Martin McDaniel, CreatiVets founder Richard Casper and Brett Gillan, “I’m Still Here” comes from the perspective of a homeless veteran, just simply trying to get by — singing, “When you’re down to your last dime, and your hope is all but gone / And no one’s hiring heroes, we’re just supposed to carry on / I’m just tryin’ to find my way, I don’t need you to shed a tear / Just please remember, I’m still here.”
“It was an honor to write this song with Miguel because I feel like so many veterans can relate its message,” explains Gillan. “During our writing session, he talked about how he developed countless skills while in the Army, but none of them were useful in getting a new job, leaving him feeling lost on the next steps in his life. When it came to this song, he really wanted to capture the journey of giving so much for his country, only to feel forgotten — making sure to note that he didn’t expect anything from others in return for his service, other than to remember he’s still here.”
The emotional tune is the latest taste of what comes from CreatiVets’ lauded songwriting programs, which pair combat veterans with songwriters in Nashville to help them learn to use music as a form of therapy. Since its founding in 2013, the organization has helped more than 1,000 combat veterans — with more than 500 veterans participating in its songwriting programs to date.
Serving as a connector for opportunities that magnify CreatiVets within the entertainment space, Big Machine Label Group continues to contribute to CreatiVets’ operational initiatives through Scott and Sandi Borchetta‘s Music Has Value Fund and through Big Machine Music, which serves as the co-publisher for CreatiVets
To learn more about CreatiVets, please visit creativets.org.
