bereavement programming
The child life specialists, social workers and staff of the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers created The Retreat of Renewal, an annual bereavement retreat, which is offered to those families who have lost a loved one.
At this retreat, Purple Songs Can Fly composers work with the siblings of children who have passed to write and record a song about the loss of their brother or sister. Using a portable studio, this recording program benefits the children and families by providing a comforting outlet of expression for their shared feelings of loss and love.
Below are lyrics written with brothers and sisters in loving memory of their siblings.
All Songs © Purple Songs Can Fly
"Pink, Yellow And Blue" with Anita Kruse & Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Hope and hugs and all your happiness
All your favorite things we won't forget
Color them pink, yellow and blue
Always with us now, like photographs of you
Pink, yellow and blue, photographs of you
"They All Lead Back To You" with Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Lego homes and dinosaurs
Little things that you adored
Pranks and games we used to play
Footprints where you danced away
All the things you smiled through
All these little hints of you
Well they all lead back to you
Nerf guns all across the floor
Notes in Grandfather's car door
All the trips we made with you
Funny voices you could do
Understood like no one else
All these little things they help
'Cause they all lead back to you
"Leaving Us Signs" with Anita Kruse & Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Trains and cars
Dance and cheer
Salt and sugar
Gone but here
We learned to be strong
We learned how to laugh
We learned how to make
Every moment last
You taught us how to push through
You taught us how to fight
You're everywhere now
Leaving us signs
"I Will Think Of You" with Anita Kruse & Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Every time I see a star I think of you
Every time I touch the blanket in your room
And from Christmastime to ladybugs in June
Looking back on all the trips I took with you
I will think of you
I will think of you
I will think of you
Every time the Astros play I think of you
Every time I see a bright yellow balloon
And from playing games to stepping on a cruise
Looking back on all the fun I had with you
I will think of you
I will think of you
I will think of you
"Watching Over Me" with Anita Kruse & Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Some days
I think about you every minute
But there's never a day
Your name fades away
And every day
Your love gives me strength
'Cause you're at peace
Watching over me
'Cause you're at peace
Watching over me
"I Remember You" with Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
I still hear you laughing day and night
I still see the light in your eyes
I still feel how you made me strong
I remember you like you're not even gone
I remember you
I remember you
"Not Just A Name" with Anita Kruse
(chorus)
Not just a name, not just a name
My sister, my brother, our happy times
Funny faces and butterflies
Angel wings and a chance in life
When I get up there, she'll teach me to fly, fly
Not just a name, not just a name
My brother, my sister, our memories
Smiley faces and playing zombies
Every day, cowboys and hide 'n seek
Fight for the cure for this disease, please
Not just a name, not just a name
"Little Lights" with Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Handprints and reminders
On my wall from you
Memories of when we played
And how I laughed with you
And these little parts of you I keep
Little lights and memories
Yes, I've got all these little lights
That you left for me
Yes, I've got all these little lights
That you left for me
"Sounds That I Don't Hear Anymore" with Aaron Kaufman
(chorus)
Following me around
Next to me when I lay down
And we played and we laughed
You were the best friend I had
You always understood me
Backed me up, followed behind me
And it's hard not to hear
Your steps, your voice, your laugh
And the sounds that I don't hear anymore
"Siblings For Life" with Anita Kruse
(chorus)
Siblings for life
We cherish the times together
We feel bad because they died
Because they died of cancer
But they are in a better place
A better place forever
