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DECEMBER 2007 UPDATE: Click HERE for a concert performance video of "My Heart Across the Ocean".

Credits:
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Keith Taylor
Recording and CD duplication: Custom Taylored Studios (Fountain Valley, CA)
Co-produced with Bob & Elena Bennett
Acoustic guitar & vocal: Bob Bennett
Acoustic bass: Osama Afifi
Scottish marching drum: John Ferraro

Special Thanks:
Bill O'Quin and America in Uniform -- Brian Mason - Chuck Smith, jr. -- Christian Military Fellowship -- Craig Strong - Craig Whittaker -- Dave Hollandsworth -- Dave Nichols - Denny Gainer & Ron Coddington at USA Today -- Don & Robyn Elkinton -- George Carden -- Grace Hernandez -- Jennifer Miner -- John & Karen Ferraro -- Keith & Gina Taylor -- Kevin Ryan Guitars -- KHCB Radio Network - Leatherneck Magazine -- Marine Moms Online -- Michael Levine -- News-Enterprise (Los Alamitos, CA) -- Osama Afifi (yes, that's his real name) -- Rich Buhler - Robert Kinsler at Orange County Register --- www.servantsheart.net -- Vicki Jennette ... and those who may yet catch the vision for this thing!

The Fine Print:
You cannot buy this. It is being freely distributed (to the best of my ability and limited funds) to military personnel and their families and friends. If you’re just not the mp3 dowloadin’ type and would like a disc mailed to you and/or have ideas of others who should hear this, click HERE for an online form. Again, this is intended for the support of our troops and families ... one per family is the general rule. Just be reasonable and make sure to fully and convincingly explain any oddball requests (“I need a dozen for a raffle in Armpit, Wisconsin and I need ’em tomorrow, okay?”).

Most importantly (and I know in a Napster/Kazaa kind of world this is a bit of a novelty), we’re on the HONOR SYSTEM here. If you are intent on ripping somebody off, it won’t be a nameless, faceless, they’re-making-dough-they-won’t-even-miss corporation ... it’ll be one guy who is full-time musician and hopes to studiously avoid real employment and the phrase “Would you like fries with that?” It’ll be me. And it won’t be cool.

Here’s the deal. I own the song, the publishing, the recording and all the copyrights to the whole shebang. Having said that, I absolutely want this heard as widely as possible by as many military families and friends as can be reached.

Of course anyone can grab the mp3 file and you can distribute as many homemade copies as can be reasonably given away. That’s right: given away! As long as there’s no money involved, as long as it doesn’t cost anybody anything (other than the cost of their own blanks CDs, I suppose), then I wave my hand in semi-dramatic fashion and hereby announce that I grant permission to duplicate. Be creative.

Although I certainly can’t control most aspects of this thing, I respectfully request that whenever possible the following copy appears on the CD or any label/packaging you might dream up:

MY HEART ACROSS THE OCEAN
WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY BOB BENNETT
© 2003 BRIGHT AVENUE SONGS (ASCAP)
WWW.BOB-BENNETT.COM

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
AND THE FAMILIES & FRIENDS
WHO LOVE & SUPPORT THEM

I ask that the song be reproduced in its entirety as is and whenever practical that either a lyric file on the disc or a lyric sheet (printed or by e-mail) follow along whenever practical. And if you’ve read this far, God Bless You and, to quote David Letterman: “Goodnight and drive safely!”

Bob Bennett

MY HEART ACROSS THE OCEAN WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY BOB BENNETT © 2003 BRIGHT AVENUE SONGS (ASCAP) I am an American father And as countless fathers have done before I hide my tears in the middle of the night For I’ve sent my American son to war Far from this fruited plain To the eye of a desert storm So proud of the man he’s made of himself Semper fi and the uniform Planes and tanks and satellite phones Flashing across on our TVs But we still have commercials in between The Wall Street scores and the casualties       So I pray my prayers as best I can       And hold on tight to the notion       That all of life is in God’s hands       And my heart is across the ocean I was never in the military My father served and now my son Sometimes I wonder if it had to be Could I ever do what they have done? But every day I look for hope My fears under my breath For all parents share the same nightmare That we might follow our child in death So many mothers and fathers now At the very start, they were just like me Now their sons and daughters are standing watch On the other side of eternity       So I pray for them and I pray for myself       With faltering devotion       To the One Who shares our sorrows and cares       For my heart is across the ocean       My heart is across the ocean

Paul bought this pin for me on the day of his graduation from Boot Camp. I wear it whenever I can, usually on the lapel of my suit coat. "My father served and now my son". This past Fall, Mom mailed me Dad's two dogtags from World War II to give to Paul. At Christmas, Paul gave me a chain with one of his tags and one of my Dad's ... he wears the other set. Every day the jingle of these tags reminds me of my dear son and also of my Dad who I still miss very much since his passing in November 1994. Read the article on My Heart Across the Ocean

In April 2003, my son Paul began six months of deployment overseas in Iraq with the Marines. As many of you probably know, I wrote a song for him called My Heart Across the Ocean. We're grateful that he returned home safely on October 5th. In early 2004, Paul was contacted by the editor of B&W, a fine arts black-and-white photography magazine. The June 2004 issue featured a reprint of Paul's letters to the magazine as well as some of his photos. With the kind permission of the magazine, I'm able to present them here. Paul, I'm so proud of you and I love you with all my heart. Semper fidelis ... Dad.