Smile. The story of the theme song for our podcast

When my brother wrote this song 20+ years ago, I had no idea it would become the anthem for the You Matter Festival (YMF) or eventually, the theme song for The Just A Mom Podcast.

My brother, Jimmy, the youngest of my four siblings, wrote it about a friend he was losing to cancer. After the first You Matter Festival, Will had the opportunity to record some songs professionally. I encouraged him to ask Jimmy if he could record Smile. I always believed Smile could have been the song that took Jimmy’s band, Sun Cured Red, to commercial success. 

At this point, however, the song had taken on new meaning for me and for Will. I often talk about when the clouds started lifting for will. And how a smile from him during the darkest times was a small victory to celebrate. So maybe you can see why this song has taken on a new, special meaning to me, and why I wanted to use it as the theme song for the Just A Mom podcast.

“…I want to see you smile again,
take away that pain and them clouds that keep covering up the sun…”

I believe Smile represents what those of us who love someone struggling with mental illness want—we want to see our loved ones smile again. We want to take away the clouds that keep covering up the sun. I’ve personally seen this played out in Will’s journey (more than once to be clear), and know that this resonates with those of you who have walked this path. 

Be encouraged. Play this song, smile. Imagine a time when the clouds lift and you see a smile again.