We’ve been hearing for months about the possibility of a “blue wave” that may flip the levers of Congressional power this November. Scott Benarde, the P.R. professional for the Norton Museum of Art, is hoping that a similar color wave washes over our lawmakers: an orange wave.
“Orange” candidates, according to Fred Guttenberg, father of Marjory Stoneman Douglas victim Jaime Guttenberg, are politicians that support gun safety legislation. It’s an offshoot of his Orange Ribbons for Jaime nonprofit. Like the Ice Bucket Challenge, Guttenberg’s #OrangeWaveinNovember challenge went out to dads on social media this summer, urging them to make videos relevant to the issue of gun safety.
That’s where Benarde, who has been an opponent of expansive gun legislation for years, came in. A rock musician and historian, he wrote an original song, “For the Love Of …” (“Turn November Orange”) and filmed an acoustic performance of it in June for his “OrangeWave” challenge.
But his contribution to the cause didn’t end there. A friend in Nashville invited Benarde to his home studio to record a full-blown electric version of the tune, which Guttenberg name-dropped last week during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Benarde allowed us to share the song here:
With its calls to “blind the NRA” with the rising sun of the orange wave movement, “For the Love Of…” is hopeful and earnest, and ideal for rousing sing-alongs. The lyrics are posted below. What do you think?
For the love of my daughter
For the Love of my son
Can’t sit on the sidelines – no longer
Something must be done
I’m accepting the challenge
Every Dad should, too
Join this voter tsunami
Do what’s right and true
Orange is the neon sign
The flag to trigger change
It’s a brilliant rising sun
To blind the NRA
This wave is for Jaime
And all her angel friends
This is just the beginning
But where the carnage ends
Turn November orange
Like a big harvest moon
Elect caring, new leaders
Who won’t sing the same old tune … For the love of my daughter…
