The Best Part of Me

This was one of my favorite co-writes ever...written with 2 friends from a songwriters group I belong to. Our group was asked to do a cd for the National Special Olympics games that were held in Lincoln, NE.  We wanted to write a song that would be encouraging and fitting for the project and cause.  It's always interesting in a writing session to see all the ideas that form, don't work and for the song to finally set sail.  This song began from a title called Young Courage.  We nearly wrote the whole song but the storyline was not coming together.  Then one night we switched gears and whala..out came The Best Part of Me.
We ended up raising a few thousand dollars and 100% of the proceeds were donated to The Special Olympics.  I'll never forget sitting around with our group for a jam session in Joy Huber's mom's basement... One of the athletes and his father were in from New York for the games.  They had co-written a song on the cd called Everybody Wins.  This precious, young man sang his heart out as his father played the song they'd written.  We were all pretty misty-eyed. 

Snipits of songs from cd at http://www.nebraska2nashville.com/Everybody%20Wins.html

Best Part Of Me
Bray/Grotrian/Heimann


Andy and Tommy born two years apart
Their Mother would say they were joined at the heart
They made up a game, what part of you’s best
Tommy would giggle and point to his chest
When kids mocked him Tommy didn’t know why
He’d turn to his brother with tears in his eyes     

      (Chorus)
      Oh Andy why is it this way
      I love to give hugs, dance and play
      I don’t know why some people can’t see
      My heart is the best part - the best part of me

Tommy had trouble with spelling and math
Sometimes the kids still treated him bad
When people stared he’d smile them away
But it still hurt and sometimes he’d say
Andy school’s easy for you to pass
I have to go to my special class

      (Chorus)

Tommy found work at the Jack and Jill store
Sacking up groceries and holding the door
He was good help showed up rain or shine
He loved his job and smiled all the time
Andy came in and said hi one day
It made him feel good to hear Tommy say

      (Chorus)
      Oh Andy I like it this way
      I have fun and I get paid
      I know people can see
      My heart is the best part, the best part of me