Studies show that nearly 40,000 veterans go without shelter in the U.S. on any given night, accounting for 11% of homeless adults across the nation. Now, CreatiVets is shining a light on this staggering statistic by giving listeners a first-hand look at what life is like for these servicemen and women. Written by veteran Miguel David DeJesus, alongside songwriter Martin McDaniel, CreatiVets founder Richard Casper and Brett Gillan, “I’m Still Here” comes from the perspective of a homeless veteran simply trying to get by:
When you’re down to your last dime, and your hope is all but gone
And no one’s hiring heroes, we’re just supposed to carry on
I’m just tryin’ to find my way, I don’t need you to shed a tear
Just please remember, I’m still here.
“It was an honor to write this song with Miguel because I feel like so many veterans can relate its message,” explains Gillan. “During our writing session, he talked about how he developed countless skills while in the Army, but none of them were useful in getting a new job, leaving him feeling lost on the next steps in his life. When it came to this song, he really wanted to capture the journey of giving so much for his country, only to feel forgotten — making sure to note that he didn’t expect anything from others in return for his service, other than to remember he’s still here.”
The emotional tune is the latest from CreatiVets’ lauded songwriting programs, which pairs combat veterans with songwriters in Nashville to help them learn to use music as a form of therapy. Since its founding in 2013, the organization has helped more than 1,000 combat veterans — with more than 500 veterans participating in its songwriting programs to date.
Serving as a connector for opportunities that magnify CreatiVets within the entertainment space, Big Machine Label Group continues to contribute to operational initiatives.through Scott and
To learn more about CreatiVets, please visit creativets.org.