Warning: This song and video are not for the faint of heart, as country singer-songwriter Hayes Carll pours a very tender and relatable experience into “Help Me Remember.” The song comes from the experiences Carll has had in his own family with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and it’s written from the point of view of a person battling with the affliction. Within the simplicity of the song, Carll captures so much that is felt by the 6 million people in America living with Alzheimer’s, in addition the millions of us who care for them.
Carll recalls, “I was 14 years old and sitting in the passenger seat of my grandfather’s truck in Waco, Texas, the town he had lived in for most of his life. He turned to me at a stoplight and asked me where we were. He looked scared. I know I was. I’ve thought a lot since then about what it must feel like to lose the thread of your own story. This song is for the people who’ve experienced what my grandfather did, those that are experiencing it currently, and for those who serve as their witnesses and caregivers.”
Carll includes a PSA at the video’s conclusion that is laden with resources for those whose lives have been impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Grammy nominee’s newest album, You Get It All, arrived on October 29 on DualTone Records, and as this beautiful song makes perfectly clear, his songwriting alone will be worth the price of admission. Watch the touching music video for “Help Me Remember” below.
Photo Credit: David McClister
