Concord artist releases heartfelt song for fire victims
CONCORD, CA (Feb. 20, 2025) — “Which way will the wind blow, mama? Which way will our home go now?”
With these opening lines of “Grab One Toy (The Fire Song),” Concord artist John Paul Hodge wastes no time getting to the heart of this emotional folk ballad about leaving everything behind in pursuit of safety.
Released within a week of the recent Los Angeles wildfires that wiped out entire communities, Hodge dedicates the song to all who have faced such tragedies.
“I have many friends, families and acquaintances who lost their homes and my heart aches for them, as well as every other family who has suffered the same. I’ve had close friends that have literally had to grab their kids and pets and run, and that’s eye-opening to the intensity of that situation. With so many fires over the last decade, I think people on the outside don’t quite grasp the heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, decision-making reality of that moment,” explains Hodge.
Despite the timely release, “Grab One Toy (The Fire Song)” was actually written in the late summer of 2023, as he and his wife were traveling through smoke-filled Northern California.
“This was after multiple years of fire seasons where towns were devastated – like Redwood Valley, Paradise and Santa Rosa – including my own hometown of Upper Lake, where the entire town was evacuated for a week,” shares Hodge.
His well of empathy for these fire victims runs deep, as he too has experienced the trauma.
“I lost my home to a fire when I was in seventh grade, and I lost everything I had. At that moment, it was obvious to me that our lives were more important than our material possessions.”
Joining Hodge on this tender ballad is vocalist Hattie Craven, a lifelong musician and performer who comes from a very musical family. Her father is Joe Craven, an international mandolinist who has toured with Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.
Essentially raised on stages, Craven has a natural ability to harmonize. On the new single, her beautiful voice further enriches the song’s melodies and its emotional weight.
“Hattie is a flourishing singer-songwriter performer who I enjoy collaborating with as much as possible – writing songs for and with, and performing together. Her voice just so happens to blend perfectly with mine.”
Hodge and Craven also made a music video for “Grab One Toy (The Fire Song)” with the help of Donovan Lee at hapafilms.com. Beautifully shot on a farm in Dixon, it features the duo performing by an evening campfire, with interwoven slow-motion shots of a man and child walking off holding hands; the child’s other hand is holding a toy doll.
“Grab One Toy (The Fire Song)” is available on all streaming platforms and online retailers. Scan the QR to watch the music video on your phone or find a YouTube link at TheBeatofDiablo.com.
Hodge will be performing in Walnut Creek 7-10 p.m. Feb. 21 at Rotator Tap Room and 5-7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Mike Hess Brewing. Additional dates and venues at jphodgemusic.com.
Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.
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Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes is a local music advocate with an extensive network of independent artists. He produces and hosts a local music program on KVHS called The Beat of Diablo, every Sunday at 7:00 PM on 90.5 FM. Dave also catalogs local music releases at ConcordRockCity.com.