I Won’t Leave You Alone (Ode to Romeo and Juliet)

In the studio one night in 2023, I sat down and began playing without thinking too much about it. The first thing that came out was the melody of the chorus. It stopped me for a moment because it felt so mesmerizing and captivating. It had the feel of a love song, and I don’t write many of those. But this one felt honest and strong right from the beginning. In fact, as it unfolded, I realized it might be the best love song I had ever written. Melancholy, tender, bittersweet, haunting.

I closed my eyes and thought of two people in love, holding each other close and not wanting to let go or leave each other — whether one was off to war, off to college, breaking up, or even as it were nearing the end of life. And I wanted to express this in a way that reflected loving, longing, and unconditional caring.

As I kept working on it, the song became more than just a melody. It turned into a promise, a realization, and a story of what our love had become during that season of life. There was something steady and true in it — something that reflected the way we were holding on to each other through circumstances that were anything but easy.

Enter Romeo & Juliet

While writing, I kept thinking about Romeo and Juliet. The melody was haunting me with their story– not the dramatic ending, but the part of their story that’s about two people who were desperate to stay connected in spite of everything working against them. It was the intensity of young love I was drawn to and wanted to write about it. That determination, that devotion, felt similar to what I was trying to express.

When people hear the song, I want them to think of that kind of dedication and love  — two people choosing each other even when the odds aren’t in their favor.

That’s why the bridge of the song gives a small homage to their story: “Somehow we’ll go on; together when the night turns to dawn.”

For me, that line carries the heart of the song. It’s about continuing forward, even when things are difficult. It’s about staying together, finding strength in the connection, and believing that hope still exists — even if it’s quiet, even if it’s small.

This is a vulnerable song for me — a vulnerable story, too. My hope is that it helps someone recognize how deeply they love someone else, or how much someone loves them. If this is how you feel about someone, always find the hope.