"Why aren't you here
Why does life seem so unfair
You were strength in my darkest days
Now how can I face the world alone - I need you here

"Forgive my negativity
This world is cold and empty
They tell me time will heal the pain
But I know I'll never be the same

"Without you - I need you here
All that I am is due to you
Do you see that you live in me
Eternally I'll always be
Connecting and reflecting to your memory"--from "Darkest Day," the song famed magician Criss Angel wrote for his late father.

In Famed Magician Criss Angel Credits His Father for 'Making Me What I Am', I discussed an interview with Criss Angel (pictured), the famous magician/illusionist, in which he gave credit for much of his success to his father, who he said was his inspiration.

Angel is known for his daring stunts. In one stunt, he astounded 75,000 people in Times Square when he set a world record for body suspension as he hung for five hours and 40 minutes from eight fishhooks.

In an interview, Angel said that his father had showed him how to face his fears after he was diagnosed with cancer and given only three weeks to live. Angel says:

"He was such a strong-willed person that he didn't care what the doctors said. He had his own vision that he was going to live and see his grandkids born. He was going to enjoy his life to its fullest. He would take the negativity and turn it into something that produced positive results. And his results were that he lived for over three years.

"The sheer will of his wanting to live -- and his mind, body and spirit working as one -- demonstrated something that people thought was impossible. And, compared to what he did with his situation, what I did with fishhooks is nothing.

"And, even though he lived with his situation every day, he found a way to put a smile on his face, be positive and say, 'Oh, I have today. I'm going to make the most of it and let my day effect other people in a very positive way.'"

Angel wrote the song "Darkest Day" about his father:

Darkest Day
(copyright 1998)

Why aren't you here
Why does life seem so unfair
You were strength in my darkest days
Now how can I face the world

Alone - I need you here
God tell me why
My friend is gone
and I'll give up forever to be with you

So tell me why - My friend is gone
Why God - my friend is gone
Tell me why my friend is gone
Won't you come back to me

In my dreams I want to see
All the promises we made come true
And to have just one more time - with you

Forgive my negativity
This world is cold and empty
They tell me time will heal the pain
But I know I'll never be the same

Without you - I need you here
All that I am is due to you
Do you see that you live in me
Eternally I'll always be

Connecting and reflecting to your memory
Can you see me can you feel me
Can you hear me can you heal me
I can't take this I can't fake this
I can't shake this Life is so unfair
I need you here - please

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 1st, 2007 at 2:10 am and is filed under Fatherhood. You can trackback from your own site.