• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

  • About
    • Bio
    • Mark Shepard Photos
    • Testimonials
  • Song Index
  • Full Albums
    • The Key To Your Cage (Full Album)
    • Spark and Flame CD
    • Purest Form of Trance CD
    • Visions and Voices CD
    • Home Across The Sea CD
    • The Fire Before the Flame CD
    • Ocean of Dreams CD
    • Eyes On The Horizon CD
    • Thirsty for the Sky CD
  • Songs
  • Contact

May 7, 2015 · Bullies & Bullying, Forgiveness, healing songs, letters to daddy, Life In Song 2000's, Musicals, Peace Songs, Rilee O'Neill Songs, Songs of Transformation

365 You Have A Secret

LTD-secret-ss“Letters To Daddy” (Continued)
Here’s the resolution song for Caroline’s interaction with “Billy the bully” from yesterday’s post. While not excusing hurtful or aggressive behavior, when we take the time to look behind the mask of a “bully” we often find someone who is being bullied somewhere else in their life. Like the game of “hot potato” we humans seem to unconsciously know that if we feel bad we can find some relief by lashing out at someone else. Unfortunately now that “someone else” is carrying the poison of the pain…And often THEY lash out at someone else. So it becomes a chain or a cycle of bullying.

This is the “Bully’s” secret. When we realize they are trying to get rid of bad feelings we can begin to help them get good feelings preemptively. It’s not always easy but it IS possible. I go pretty deep with this in my “Bully Proof Kid” book. But this song is kind of where the idea started for me doing Bullying Prevention programs for schools.

BTW Rilee O’Neil was 12 years old when she sang this so beautifully. The incomparable Joe Mennonna plays an amazing soprano sax on this track (as well as a truly sensitive arrangement).

Please click the arrow to play:

You Have A Secret

Song # 365 | August –Sept 2007 | CD: Letters To Daddy

There’s a folder full of letters
In a pile on the desk
From the students in my father’s class
And every letter in the folder
Tells a story of getting older
Learning lessons, growing up fast

Here’s a letter from a kid who
Doesn’t know just what he did to
Deserve the beatings from his dad
Was his behavior all that bad?
Or did he just get in the way
At the end of his father’s rotten day?

Refrain:
You have a secret
We all have secrets
You have a secret
And it’s safe with me

So now he walks into the school yard
Acting tough and cool and hard
He’s the bully all the students fear
But if they could only see his tears
While his father drinks his beer
Hiding underneath the cellar stairs

Refrain:

Take a moment to pay attention
To the things that kids don’t mention
If you look you’ll glimpse it in their eyes
And now I realize
There’s a lesson here for me
That people are much than what we see…

Refrain:

Copyright 2007 by 4E Productions. ASCAP. All Rights Reserved.
Photo – screen shot of Letters To Daddy Live Performance Video

Filed Under: Bullies & Bullying, Forgiveness, healing songs, letters to daddy, Life In Song 2000's, Musicals, Peace Songs, Rilee O'Neill Songs, Songs of Transformation

Previous Post: « 370 Billy Is A Bully (I Will Defend)
Next Post: 365 You Have A Secret-Video »

Primary Sidebar

A Life in Song Newsletter

Hey! Every time I record a new song I send a short email to let you know. If you want to be on the list sign up below...

Mark Shepard’s CDs

Like me on facebook

Some reviews & testimonials

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Song Search

Contact, Like, Follow, Donate

  • facebook
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • soundcloud
  • mail

Copyright © 2025 · Mark Shepard Sings
Powered by Success Marketing · Log in