askDNA
12-09-2005, 12:31 PM
In a letter home before he was killed, Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr. asked that if anything happened to him for the band Dropkick Murphys' cover song "Field of Athenry" be played at his funeral.
The band was in the studio recording their latest CD, "The Warriors Code," when they found out about Farrar's letter home, said Ken Casey, lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys.
The impact of that request was such that the band honored Farrar by playing the song live while his casket was being transported into the church in Weymouth, Mass.
Because Farrar was such a fan, it prompted the band to immortalize him in a song they were writing called "Last Letter Home." The original idea was to compile several letters written by service members serving in the War on Terrorism. That idea was scrapped and Farrar's last letter home was used instead.
"When you read Farrar's letter, it tears your heart out," said Casey. Reading his thoughts and finding out how much he like the band; it was an honor to write the song.
They placed a copy of the CD in Farrar's casket at the wake.
"Who deserves their life documented better than a Marine serving his country," said Casey.
Last Letter Home
From the album The Warriors Code, Dropkick Murphys, 2005
Hello there my dearest love
Today I write to you about our sons
The boys start school today
They're the spitting image of you in every way
Hey son it's Dad
I hope this letter finds you well out of harm's way
We saw the news today it frightened your Mom
Now all she does is pray
[Chorus:]
If I lead will you follow?
Will you follow if I lead?
Hey Melissa it's me don't be afraid
I'm in good hands I'm gonna be home soon
It's time to watch the children grow up
I wanna be more than a voice on the phone
Thanks Ma I got your package today
I love "The Fields Of Athenry"
I swear I want 'em to play that song on the pipes
At my funeral when I die
[Chorus]
I stand alone in the distance
And the foreground slowly moves
[Chorus]
"We regret to inform you that on January 28th Sgt. Andrew
Farrar died while serving his country in the Al-Anbar province
of Iraq words cannot convey our sorrow"
[Chorus]
When there's nothing on the horizon
You've got nothing left to prove
If I lead will you follow?http://www.mcnews.info/marines/features/rememberingthe_03.shtml
The band was in the studio recording their latest CD, "The Warriors Code," when they found out about Farrar's letter home, said Ken Casey, lead singer of the Dropkick Murphys.
The impact of that request was such that the band honored Farrar by playing the song live while his casket was being transported into the church in Weymouth, Mass.
Because Farrar was such a fan, it prompted the band to immortalize him in a song they were writing called "Last Letter Home." The original idea was to compile several letters written by service members serving in the War on Terrorism. That idea was scrapped and Farrar's last letter home was used instead.
"When you read Farrar's letter, it tears your heart out," said Casey. Reading his thoughts and finding out how much he like the band; it was an honor to write the song.
They placed a copy of the CD in Farrar's casket at the wake.
"Who deserves their life documented better than a Marine serving his country," said Casey.
Last Letter Home
From the album The Warriors Code, Dropkick Murphys, 2005
Hello there my dearest love
Today I write to you about our sons
The boys start school today
They're the spitting image of you in every way
Hey son it's Dad
I hope this letter finds you well out of harm's way
We saw the news today it frightened your Mom
Now all she does is pray
[Chorus:]
If I lead will you follow?
Will you follow if I lead?
Hey Melissa it's me don't be afraid
I'm in good hands I'm gonna be home soon
It's time to watch the children grow up
I wanna be more than a voice on the phone
Thanks Ma I got your package today
I love "The Fields Of Athenry"
I swear I want 'em to play that song on the pipes
At my funeral when I die
[Chorus]
I stand alone in the distance
And the foreground slowly moves
[Chorus]
"We regret to inform you that on January 28th Sgt. Andrew
Farrar died while serving his country in the Al-Anbar province
of Iraq words cannot convey our sorrow"
[Chorus]
When there's nothing on the horizon
You've got nothing left to prove
If I lead will you follow?http://www.mcnews.info/marines/features/rememberingthe_03.shtml