I was in London to record some music, when I saw the picture of the lovely little girl MADDIE (Madeleine McCann) on the front page of a newspaper. When I understood that she had been snatched by unknown people I felt deep sorrow for her parents. I knew what it felt like to loose one’s beloved daughter. Some years ago my two girls were taken away from me by their mother helped by others. Although I knew where they were, it resulted in 3 ½ years of deep depression. Even though it is harder not knowing where a child is, I have an idea about what it feels like to get a child taken away.

For a long time I wanted to write a song about my eldest daughter and how much she meant to me. My sympathy for Maddie’s parents became the occasion for me to write my song. Identifying with their terrible experience I  began with one phrase: “They took my love away”. Both my chorus about my love for my daughter and the bridge, which is a cry for help, is held in such general terms, that Maddie’s parents and many other suffering parents surely can identify with my experience. Only the second verse is particularly specific for my daughter, since it tells the story about how she miraculously got her name. Verse one is about the wonder of a newborn child and verse three is about how it feels to live separated from your love, while she grows up.

I would like to dedicate my song to my beloved daughter, who now lives in Southern California, to Maddie’s suffering parents and others, who had the terrible experience of having a child taken away one way or the other.