Marta's Eyes

How my Granddaughter, a Pink Ukulele, and the Musical Spirit of Glen Campbell Inspired a Song

If you’re lucky, a songwriter will share a little about the inspiration behind their tune before playing it for you. Something about hearing that story makes the experience even more special. You might learn how a single line of lyrics can spark an entire song— an unfolding poetic expression of the songwriter’s philosophy. Melody often draws from familiar emotions, while stirred memories inspire poetry. Contemporary experiences shape songs of observation. Even something as simple as watching a bird land on a windowsill can inspire a songwriter to craft a rich metaphor and weave it into a memorable melodic hook.

If you’ve ever listened to a songwriter discuss their craft, you’ll notice a common theme—the process of composing a song often feels mystical. Once inspiration strikes, melody and poetry seem to emerge from a mirage, flowing through an instrument as a gift from a higher power. It’s an experience that evokes a deeply personal and powerful kind of existential gratitude.

Let me share what I believe was a mystical process—an almost spiritual intersection that led to the creation of my song, Marta’s Eyes.

Back to 1968

My mother was a huge Glen Campbell fan. As a kid in the late ’60s, his records played constantly in our home, almost becoming the soundtrack of our daily lives. Among his many classics, one song captivated me the most—his rendition of songwriter John D. Loudermilk’s waltz I Wanna Live. Years later, I realized why it resonated so deeply: Glen’s interpretation carried a profound healing quality.

It was only upon reflection that I made a surprising discovery. That song was released as a single in March of 1968, just before my ninth birthday—around the same time my father sat me down on our front porch to gently explain that he and my mother were separating. I lost my Dad in 1973 after a battle with cancer. Looking back, I now see how the song may have been a source of solace during those painful and confusing years.

Fast Forward to 2017

When news of Glen Campbell’s passing broke in August 2017, it hit hard. Watching his decline in the profoundly moving 2014 documentary of his farewell tour, called Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, had already been heartbreaking. Having witnessed a close family member of my own experience the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps, Glen’s illness pushed all those familiar emotions back to the surface. All of us—his fans—knew his time was limited and his loss carried a deep sadness in me that was difficult to shake. And the newfound painful irony in I Wanna Live kept replaying in my mind. I couldn’t bear to actually listen to it again.

Then, a couple of months later, something beautiful happened—our son and daughter-in-law shared miraculous news. They were expecting our first grandchild! In 2018, baby Marta arrived, bringing with her a renewed sense of purpose and joy, just as each of our grandchildren would in the years to come.

The Songwriting Spark

When Marta turned two, I gave her a pink ukulele with a strap embroidered with butterflies. She danced around the house with it, strumming wildly, making up songs on the spot. Watching her free-wheeling joy stirred something within me.

Then came that mystical moment.

As soon as I picked up my guitar, played some chords, and sang, “Strummin’ along on her pink ukulele,” I immediately felt the musical presence of Glen Campbell. I had to pause to collect myself—it was an emotional moment. As the lyrics and melody took shape, I realized my song was, in a different way, capturing a similar message in John Loudermilk’s lyrics and I found myself imagining Glen singing this simple story about a girl named Marta. I could even picture the record spinning on the turntable, just as it had when I was a kid sitting cross-legged on the floor, listening.

Though I was certainly projecting a grandfather’s wish for his granddaughter’s future, I realized the song wasn’t just about Marta. It was about any child in our lives—the dreams we have for them, the love we hope surrounds them. And perhaps, more profoundly, it is my quiet tribute to the gift of Marta’s unbroken family.

I’m no Glen Campbell, but when I hear Marta’s Eyes, I’ll always hear him singing it through me. I’m grateful that his musical spirit, Marta’s boundless energy, and my love for her and her parents combined to inspire a song that she now insists I play every time I pick her up from school.

And after I drop her off at home, I listen, again, to I Wanna Live.

Listen to Marta’s Eyes.

Strummin’ along on her pink ukulele

Seein’ big dreams in the eyes of a baby

Twirlin’ on the kitchen floor like a ballerina

Tryin’ to make sure that her Momma and her Daddy see her

Each day’s another beautiful surprise

In Marta’s eyes

Daddy takes her fishin’ hooks a big one on the first cast

Momma keeps wishin’ that her baby wouldn’t grow so fast

Dancin’ at the prom with a young buck from the high school

College and a white dress and a couple sayin’ I do

The days become the years and how they fly

In Marta’s eyes

Life’s a haze with dreams ablaze

And the fire is forged in their first gaze

The child’s first gaze

Strummin’ along on her pink ukulele

Sings a lullaby to her new little baby

Tonight she’s on the stage makes her debut in a big show

Her Momma and her Daddy sittin’ right there in the front row

The tears of joy will never be disguised

In Marta’s eyes

You can find and support my songwriting efforts by purchasing my song downloads on iTunes or any of the digital music platforms. Thanks, in advance for adding them to your playlists! More music to come…