What's Happy This Week: A Letter From Fred – “Oh Sweet Lorraine” An Amazing Song Written by 96 year Old

 

 Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.
Plato

 

The greatest love stories and tales of romance are usually written by people who have to let go of someone who they deeply loved. This is the case of Fred Stobaugh, a 96 year old Peoria resident Fred Stobaugh, who recently lost his wife and partner of 75 years, Lorraine.

One day Illinois based Green Shoe Studio ran a song competition they expected entrants to upload their finished tunes to YouTube. So when one person sent them a letter containing the lyrics of his song they were a little surprised. 

Singer and songwriter Jacob Colgan remembers receiving Fred’s letter. “What made Fred's entry so special was instead of a video, it was a large manila envelope titled Green Shoe Studio Singer Songwriter contest.”

It was an entry to his Studio’s songwriting contest. The kind of entry Jacob never expected. “He had written a song for his wife, ‘Sweet Lorraine’ Fred’s song is about his life and his love for his wife. He said, “’Sweet Lorraine’ I called it. Wish we could do the good times all over again.”

Jacob said, “I started to read the lyrics and was so touched by the song and without even meeting Fred we thought, we're going to do something.” Fred said, “And I was surprised. It wasn't too long that Jacob called me and it really touched him.” Jacob said, “We wanted to put it to professional music and sing on it and he said, well you know that's great but I just don't have the money to cover it.” With Fred’s blessing, Jacob wanted to bring his lyrics to life.

When Fred first heard the song, he cried. He said, “Wonderful, just wonderful.” Fred said, “It just touched me. And I know Lorraine, she heard that too. It just has been a great life. If I could do over again, I would do it.” Fred said he finds comfort in the sound of his song. It’s something he has to cherish forever. He said, “The song really helps me. It really helps me. It just seemed like she's just sort of with me. Which I know she's smiling, she's smiling down and she likes that song, I know.”

The moving tale of two souls has spread like wildfire all over the world. Watch the heartwarming clip below. It has you wanting more, "Oh Sweet Lorraine" is nowavailable on iTunes.