James Blunt recently revealed his dad had been diagnosed with Stage 4 chronic kidney disease and is in need of a transplant, and now the singer has released an emotionally-charged new single as a tribute to his dying father.
The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer penned ‘Monsters’ as a way of saying goodbye to his father, a former cavalry officer, and the brutally honest lyrics will no doubt ring true for anyone who has lost someone they love. And Blunt even enlisted the help of his father, Colonel Charles Blount, for the equally heart-rending video for the song.
The video begins with Blunt sitting, teary-eyed at a table in a gothic home, as he sings the opening verse: “Oh, before they turn off all the lights. I won’t read your wrongs or your rights. The time has gone. I’ll tell you goodnight close the door, tell you I love you once more.
“The time has gone, so here it is. I’m not your son, you’re not my father, we’re just two grown men saying goodbye.
“No need to forgive, no need to forget. I know your mistakes and you know mine. And while you’re sleeping, I’ll try to make you proud so daddy won’t you just close your eyes. Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn to chase the monsters away.”
For most of the song, we see Blunt on the verge of breaking down as tears roll down his face while he belts out the extremely raw lyrics to the heartfelt song. After around two and a half minutes, however, the camera pans backwards to reveal that James’ father has been seated beside him the entire time.
The veteran places his hand on his son’s forearms as he sings through the tears, with James directing the lyrics to his father as they look into each other’s eyes. The tear-jerking video clip, which has been viewed almost 2 million times since it was released at the end of last week, comes to an end with James and Charles looking solemnly at the camera as the father gives his son a supportive pat on the arm.
Fans praised Blunt for displaying his emotion so openly, with one person commenting: “I cry every time I hear this song just listening to the emotion, but seeing the video is another level. To put your emotion out for everyone to see is so hard, thank you for letting us see this and feel it.”
Another said: “My dad passed away in August last year after battling Alzheimers. This song hurt but helped me remember more about him. Thank you Mr Blunt.”
While another wrote: “When he sing[s] this song and directly said it to the screen it feels like he’s trying to talk to us and the sadness in his eyes and try to project the braveness. This is song is both amazing and sad.”
All proceeds from the song will be donated to charities Help for Heroes and The British Legion, with both men having served in Her Majesty’s British Army.
The ‘Goodbye My Lover’ singer revealed the news of his father’s ill-health last week during an appearance on British morning TV show Good Morning Britain as he made an emotional plea for donors to come forward, as his dad is in need of a kidney transplant.
“I’ve come on here to ask you what blood group you are. Some things have been going on in my life that I needed to write about,” he said. “My father has not been very well actually. He needs a new kidney. And he’s a kidney donor. And I’ve come on here to ask you what blood group you are. If you are an O-positive I’ll take it off you.”