A few years ago, when I first heard country artist Jay Allen’s song, “Blank Stares,” it struck a chord with me. Every word explained exactly how I was feeling and what I was experiencing caring for my mother living with Alzheimer’s disease. The song even begins with a snippet of a voicemail message that his mother left him. I, too, keep voicemail messages that my mom left for me and listen to them just to hear her voice.
Jay shares his emotional story often in an effort to educate the public about this horrific disease without a cure. Jay released his song in 2017 after watching his mother struggle with Alzheimer’s. His mother was diagnosed with early onset at the age of 54. Jay has committed to raising $100 million to fight Alzheimer’s by 2023, and to date, he is halfway there.
Jay lost his mother to Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. Before she died, Jay wrote the powerful song, “Blank Stares,” about his journey through her disease. He even brought his mom on stage with him a few times to sing that song. Jay wanted to not only sing about the disease but to show his audiences what dementia looked like.
Jay’s story surely will make its way into his blind audition on the season premiere of the popular TV show, The Voice, on Monday, September 19, 2022. At times, it has been a tough story to share. When videos of him singing to his mom went viral, the musician found himself booked for more and more Alzheimer’s fundraising gigs, talking to more and more people who’d lost their loved ones to dementia.
I have been in contact with Jay Allen to personally thank him for his work to help end Alzheimer’s. Let me know if you have heard Jay’s song before or if you will be hearing it for the first time on Monday’s season premiere of The Voice. Click here to listen to the song on YouTube.
Join Rothkoff Law Group’s team “Love 4 Lois” for the Philadelphia Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, November 12, 2022, by clicking here.
Blank Stares
Jay Allen
Ok, I just was wondering what you were doingAnd I wanna, humI wanted to say happy, hum
There’s a voicemail that I keepI listen to it, just to hear you speak“Hey Son” turns to silence just like thatYou know I love you walking byLike you saw the phone in your hand and you didn’t know whyIt’s crazy how you come and go so fast
Oh how do I get you backIf I could only seal the cracks you’re slipping throughWish I didn’t feel so helpless when it comes to helping youHold onSo I keep holding onTo every little memory made of you and meEvery little glimpse of who you used to beI know you’re still in thereDeep down somewhere I swear I still see youBetween the blank stares
It’s the first thing that I think aboutWhen I wake up and when I lay downIt’s the last thing I feel crawling through my mindI’m still trying to understand itSitting next to you holding your handAnd hoping you won’t fade away this time
Just stay a little whilePlease stay a little whileIf I can only seal the cracks you’re slipping throughWish I didn’t feel so helpless when it comes to helping youHold onSo I keep holding onTo every little memory made of you and meEvery little glimpse of who you used to beI know you’re still in thereDeep down somewhere I swear I still see youBetween the blank stares
It’s getting harder and harderTo watch you disappearOh if only farther leaving me in tears