I Miss You More

Corey Thornton, Sr.’s Song He Wrote About His Grief

There are some valuable lessons to learn from Corey’s song and what motivated him to write it. But first brief information to what led to his grief.

Corey and his wife, Andrea, lost two children. Autumn Rose Thornton on July 9, 2011, and Corey Thomas Thornton, Jr. on March 7, 2022.

Earlier this month it was Corey, Jr.’s birthday and Corey, Sr. was having a tough time. He reached out to me for help and suggestions. After I texted Corey, Sr. a note and list of suggestions, I called to check on him. He was not in a good place. We talked for about 30 minutes and by the end of the conversation he sounded better.

The next day he sent me a song he wrote about his grief for Corey, Jr. I called him back to compliment him on the song.

“I wrote the song after you and I spoke on the phone. I couldn’t go to sleep. A few hours later, I wrote this song.”

When Corey, Sr. sent me the song he had used AI to write the music and a voice to sing the song country style - Corey's favorite music. Although it sounded good, I thought it would be a good idea to have a human being write the music. So, I asked Corey, Sr. if he’d let me ask my son, Matt, to write the music. He said, “Yes.”

Matt, is a talented musician. In addition to writing music he can play every instrument. And, more importantly, he understands grief because he lost his older brother, Wesley, in 2022.

What a feeling it was to know that I was able to comfort him and give Matt an opportunity to comfort another person he doesn’t even know and practice empathy for him.

Helping other people heal is a part of the path I take to heal from my grief of losing Wesley. And that requires that I take time off from my grief to practice empathy by comforting another person who is grieving. And what a joy it was to see Matt practice empathy.

Here are some lessons people who are grieving can learn from Corey, Sr.’s song.

Grief doesn’t need to be a 24/7 burden. It's okay to take time off from it.

Writing, whether it is in the form of a song, poem or essay is therapeutic.

Empathy is a two-way street.

Remember the Golden Rule about do unto others. Here is a similar one for empathy. Practice empathy for other people the way you’d like them to practice it for you.

Here are the lyrics to the song Corey, Sr. wrote. After Matt writes the music, I will post it. I

hope you enjoy reading the lyrics and that it provides you with some comfort and valuable learning lessons about how to heal from grief with grace, peace and harmony.

In photo #1 Corey is holding Corey, Jr.’s, Autumn’s, Preston’s and Wesley’s Charms.

Thank you Corey for writing this song and sharing it with us!

I Miss You More by Corey Thornton, Sr.

I miss you more with each sunrise glow

Like a song that ended too soon, feeling low

You were my boy, my heart, my fight

Now that you’re gone I talk to the stars every night

Grief doesn’t fade, it just rides along

Like a lonesome verse in a country song

You were once a boy on that BMX bike

Flying down the gravel road like you owned the night

First time you fell, I ran so fast

Held you close, wishing the pain would pass

Then came school, you backpack so big

I watched you walk away, while my heart beat a jig

I waved goodbye and wanted to cry

Still trying to protect you, all the while

Chorus: I miss you more with each sunrise glow

Like a song that ended too soon, feeling low

You were my boy, my heart, my fight

Now that you’re gone I talk to the stars every

Grief doesn’t fade, it just rides along

Like a lonesome verse in a country song

You grew up strong with fire in your soul

I stepped back to watch you grow

The man you’d be, the dreams you’d chase

All I wanted was to share your space

But in the end, I couldn’t shield you from the storm

The world took you and left my heart torn

Now you’re gone, I look up and ask the sky

Why I never got to say goodbye

Chorus: I miss you more with each sunrise glow

Like a song that ended too soon, feeling low

You were my boy, my heart, my fight

Now that you’re gone I talk to the stars every

Grief doesn’t fade, it just rides along

Like a lonesome verse in a country song

I miss you more than words can say

Like a sunrise that never finds the day

You were my boy, my pride, my light

Now I talk to the stars every night

Chorus: I miss you more with each sunrise glow

Like a song that ended too soon, feeling low

You were my boy, my heart, my fight

Now that you’re gone I talk to the stars every night

Grief doesn’t fade, it just rides along

Like a lonesome verse in a country song