My brother David Frantz will be 64 on Friday, February 16, 2018. I made this as a birthday gift for him from my pics of his first and last surf sessions in Nova Scotia below my house there in November 2016. The photos are pretty terrible as it was raining in the first session and sleeting in the last, wind blowing about 35mph offshore. In the surfing world going out on a day like that is called in our tribal lingo ‘core,’ short for ‘hardcore.’ It is one of the highest honors to achieve being known as ‘core.’ i.e. That dude is so core! My brother is core.
I stood on the beach getting soaked and freezing, fingers numbing in the few seconds it took to shoot a sequence when he caught a wave. I would not have wanted to be anywhere else doing anything else. I was so proud of him going for it, of his endless stoke to do what he loves no matter the challenge or hardship. The least I could do was document it for posterity.
There was only one song I could think of to use as a track to this compilation. Its lyrics are much more meaningful than being there for your biological brother, it’s about all of us being there for all our brothers. A message especially meaningful in today’s divisive political and cultural climate where our differences are escalated into hate by some who forget we are ALL brothers.
I have another ‘brother’ from a different mother. David F Puu We have this connection that can’t be explained. After making this, and wanting to share it, but wanting to save it for my brother’s actual birthday as a surprise, it came to me that I needed to share it with David Puu. So I sent him the link via Messenger. Moments later I got a reply back. I discovered he had just gone through a very heavy loss, his own brother had recently passed. I hope the message in this song gave him some peace and so I dedicate this to him as well in his time of grief.
I have still another ‘brother’ named David who has been a huge influence on me and my life, one of the finest men I’ve ever known. A legend and an artist and a craftsmen par excellence. Perhaps no one but my father has been such an influence on my life. I hope to surf these waves with him some day soon and so I dedicate this to you Dave Johnson as well.
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
The HolliesThe road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy he’s my brother
He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, he ain’t heavySongwriters: Bob Russell / Bobby Scott
