Many SoulTrackers may know Lee Hawkins as a journalist. You may have read his work in the Wall Street Journal or seen his face on the Fox Business Network. But at SoulTracks, we mostly know Lee as a top tier songwriter. In fact, he was the runner up a few years ago in our popular SoulTracks Songwriting Contest, and he was also a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Award.
But the award-winner songwriter has not stood still since then. He released a Gospel Christmas album (Songs About the Birth of Jesus) and he has been observing and writing as always.
Now, Lee has written a new song with a very important message about domestic violence and child abuse. And he has decided to make a video to bring the song to life.
Many SoulTrackers may know Lee Hawkins as a journalist. You may have read his work in the Wall Street Journal or seen his face on the Fox Business Network. But at SoulTracks, we mostly know Lee as a top tier songwriter. In fact, he was the runner up a few years ago in our popular SoulTracks Songwriting Contest, and he was also a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Award.
But the award-winner songwriter has not stood still since then. He released a Gospel Christmas album (Songs About the Birth of Jesus) and he has been observing and writing as always.
Now, Lee has written a new song with a very important message about domestic violence and child abuse. And he has decided to make a video to bring the song to life.
Lee tells us, “I wrote this song, ‘Heal,’ around the time that the NFL was getting all the publicity around domestic violence and child abuse. It was horrific to see the videos and photos of the victims in these cases, but at the same time, the national conversation that it forged was positive, because it raised awareness among men. I was thinking a lot about the role that we as men can play in changing culture, to understand that domestic violence awareness should be defined more broadly -- not as a women's issue, but a human issue. Because while the effects of domestic and family violence may disproportionately affect women, their abusers are sons of abusers, and their children become victims, and then cycle often continues.
“So I wanted to write a song that shows men that we can be allies with the women in our lives, to let them know that we have adopted a zero tolerance posture toward domestic violence, and that we realize that this is not just their issue to grapple with, but that we also will take an oath to fight it.
“So the story in this video is about a man who is telling woman that he admires her for having the strength to overcome what she endured, and that grace she's exhibited has empowered him to heal his own generational wounds. I hope that message comes across in the song and in the video. Though I also do Christian music, this is more of an inspirational song than a Christian song. But the power of God is in there, because the song is full of love for women have suffered abuse, especially those silent sufferers who eventually break free, and those millions of women around the world who have not yet broken free of it.”
We are extremely proud to present the premiere of the music video “Heal,” a perfect accompaniment to a powerful – and timely – song.
Lee Hawkins - "Heal"