A doting Rutherglen dad has penned and recorded a moving song dedicated to his two-year-old son in appreciation of the precious six months he got to spend with his little boy during lockdown.
Kevin Smith was preparing to return to work when he stayed up late one night to write Half A Year With You for Corey – a ballad to save for posterity, and a musical time capsule of the family’s months in lockdown.
To accompany the tune and its lyrics, Kevin’s wife, Pamela, created a video featuring the photos she snapped every day of Corey that now serve as memories of their most special times together.
The video, which has notched up more than 600 views on YouTube, has now overtaken Corey’s small screen favourites, Peppa Pig and Peter Rabbit.
Loch Primary School teacher Pamela explained: “Kevin took voluntary redundancy from his job as a business analyst in December and was due to start a new job in March, but because of everything that has gone on that didn’t happen.
“The week before he was due back at work, I woke up one morning and he said he’d stayed up late, thinking about everything that had happened and spending time with Corey and that he’d had a song in his head about all the things they did together.
“When I heard it, it brought tears to my eyes.”
With no work commitments and no weekend football, lockdown meant that dad and son had much more time together.
The lyrics of the song written by guitarist Kevin – who plays in local wedding band, Standing Order – record everything from Corey’s pavement party for his second birthday, to splashing in puddles and daily dancing to his live toddler music sessions on Zoom.
And it’s clear that his dad’s musical talents have rubbed off on young Corey, who attends Oakwood Nursery. “He sings constantly, and he has even started singing along to that song,” said Pamela, of Reid Street, Rutherglen.
“My husband made fun of me for taking pictures every single day during the lockdown so that we could keep family up to date with everything we were doing, and I used them to put together the video.
“A lot of people who have seen it can totally relate to it and are touched by the fact that Kevin has taken the opportunity to put it down in words.
“He has penned a few songs over the years, but this one is really something to treasure and Corey is very lucky.
“Kevin lost his own dad a few years ago and he has taken to fatherhood great.
“He’s a great dad. Corey loves him and calls him his best friend.
“Now back at work, we make a point of spending time together – something that we treasure and will never take for granted.”
The video can be viewed at https://youtube/fg9_yZ2THss
