National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Inc.
National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, Inc.
The "Notes of Adam's Song" program is a special, ongoing outreach project of the National Crisis Intervention Training Institute, designed to provide mutual aid support to Surviving Parents and other Loved Ones who are suffering from the after-effects of the lose of a child. The Surviving Parents Outreach Network offers mutual aid support and other resources through mutual aid support groups, 1:1 support and crisis intervention services, and outreach videos.
Adam Joshua Johnson is the deceased son of Joel Johnson, the founder of the National Crisis Intervention Institute. Adam was shot and killed by a first-responding police officer, at 5:30 a.m., January 8, 2009, during an acute mental health crisis, in his own apartment.
...IS HOW HE LIVED! Adam was a grass roots humanitarian, and a gifted musician. He was devoted to helping other people who were in pain. Adam had a "special burden in his heart" for homeless people, and youth who were in pain. As a sufferer of mental illness, he never forgot to care for other suffering people, in spite of his own chronic mental illness. Adam believed that "Caring is a verb: something God wants us to DO, not just feel."
Adam was a gifted musician, and music composer. He composed some incredibly beautiful guitar arrangements. However, the most beautiful song he ever wrote was not on paper, and was not played on his guitar. Adam wrote his song with his life. Every life that he touched was a "Note in Adam's Song." And now, after over ten years since his earthly death, Adam's Song Continues. If you are helped by this website, and inspired by Adam's life, you are now a Note in His Song.
You came to us one day, in your very special way.
Sent from God, you helped us to belong.
You taught us how to give, and you made us want to live
Better lives through the beauty of your song.
Your smile is the melody; your heart is the harmony;
And the lyrics of your life, they make us strong.
Our love for you will stay, and will never go away,
For We Are The Notes of Adam’s Song.
You tuned in to our pain, and your love for us remained;
And you taught us how to laugh and how to cry.
Though you hurt, you made us smile with your special “Adam Style,”
And your mischief…and the twinkle in your eye.
Your smile is the melody; your heart is the harmony;
And the lyrics of your life, they make us strong.
Our love for you will stay, and will never go away,
For We Are The Notes of Adam’s Song.
Your passion for your beliefs will comfort us in grief.
Loved by God, you rest safely in His arms.
Now never will you cry; the tears have left your eyes;
No more fear…no more pain…free from harm.
Your smile is the melody; your heart is the harmony;
And the lyrics of your life, they make us strong.
Our love for you will stay, and will never go away,
For We Are The Notes of Adam’s Song.
Yes, Son, your smile is our melody; and your heart is our harmony;
And the lyrics of your life, they make us strong.
Our love for you will stay, and will never go away,
For We Are The Notes of Adam’s Song.
For we are The Notes of Adam’s Song.
I love you, My Son.
Copyright 2009, Joel Johnson
P.S. Joel wrote the lyrics and melody to this song the night before Adam's funeral. For obvious reasons, he was in no shape to sing the song at the funeral. In fact, he barely made it through the recitation of Adam's Eulogy. The only existing recording of "The Notes of Adam's Song" is a first-time, rough-draft recording, done in a voice dub-over recording booth in St. Petersburg, FL.
After laying down the original rough tracks, Joel and his guitarist, Teresa Arruza, intended to return within a few weeks to edit and refine the recording, but the engineer's computer's motherboard "fried," leaving us with only this copy. Therefore, the recording is not technically perfect. Also, you will hear some breaks in Joel's voice from time to time. He was crying throughout the recording. Click on the "Download" button below to listen to the only recording of "The Notes of Adam's Song."
The Notes of Adam's Song (mp3)
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