Rebby Lee - See the Sun, the Story

The sun inspires me. The sun rises every morning. Without fail. It fades into a sunset every evening. And then it leaves us for nighttime. Sometimes hidden by clouds, rain, and storms. But it comes back every day. Sometimes in the background. But there. Always there. Like a friend.

It’s 1980. I’m up in the woods with my son Andy, at the lake with my mom and dad. I watch the day come alive. The sun comes up over the island. A steady beam of pure sunshine spreads incredible colors all over the lake and sky. Stunning.

I’m at a turning point. After five years of marriage, I am adjusting to life raising a 3-year-old by myself. Never expected that. Life is challenging. Tough. I grab my guitar. I sit at the piano. Looking out the window at the natural beauty surrounding me. Paper and pen ready. I play a chord. I sing some words and a melody. I jot the chords down. I scribble the words. I sing. I write. I sing. I write. This goes on. Back and forth. Words spill out. One verse done.

See the sun come shining in my window

Hear the rain falling on the ground

And I want you to know you’ll always have a friend in me

And you’re welcome just to come and hang around

With me, anytime, night or day, buddy

I’ll be waiting around just to play

I’ll be waiting by the tree

Won’t you come and play with me

Near the water, underneath the sky,

Just you and I

Fiercely I write more. As fast as I can. It feels really good. When the song is done, I call it “See The Sun.” I know I’ve crossed a bridge. I’m writing good songs. I know it. I feel it.

Have you ever had that feeling? When you know something is right.

I hadn’t felt that in a while. My dreams had burst. My marriage ended. I had married a controlling, abusive and unkind man. He was angry. Explosive. Never satisfied. Andy and I were afraid. I knew we had to leave. But how? He was a big man.

His greed gave me the push I needed. I overheard him confess to someone on the phone that he had forged my name on a check for $40,000 when we sold our house - the exact amount we owed my parents for the down payment. He had already spent it. Shocked but determined, I packed up Andy. We left for the safety of the north woods. My parents welcomed us with complete understanding and unconditional love. But it was hard. Tough lessons. Amid the pines I found solitude and healing. And I was free to write. To sing. To play. No one was trying to control me. Songs were pouring out of me. Music was one of my best friends. Carried me through the roughest of times. Still does.

My mom and dad were there every step of the way. All they wanted was safety and happiness for me and Andy. They were my family. They were my friends.

A few very close friends stood by my side. Held my hand. Let me cry. Helped me be strong. Let me be me. Cared for me. Cared for Andy. We cared for each other.

The sun finally came out. It always does.

Come let’s walk hand in hand as we stroll along the sand

Thinking ‘bout what tomorrow brings

We won’t worry about the future – we won’t worry ‘bout the past

‘Cause our friendship is going to last

And I want you to know that wherever you may go

I’ll be missing you, but my thoughts will be there

And you can search the whole world over and try to find some clover

But you’ll never find a truer friend who’ll care

Like I do

“See The Sun” came together beautifully. I didn’t change a word. Or the melody. I wanted to hear that song played back. I wanted to hear all my songs. I was almost 30.

I booked studio time at a well-known recording studio in Minneapolis. A birthday gift to myself.

First time in a recording studio. First time singing into a mic. First time amplifying my guitar. First time with headphones. First time working with a recording engineer. First time.

July 30, 1980 arrives.

I walked in. Had a chat with the engineer. I wanted to record 16 songs I had written. He smiled and said, “no one does that in one session.” I said I was going to try. I needed to hear myself sing. I needed to hear my songs. He put headphones on me. Mic’d me up. Plugged my guitar into an amp.

The first time I heard my voice and guitar come right into my ears through headphones it was magic. I fell in love. With the sound. Of my voice and guitar. With recording. With the entire process. I was truly blown away.

Three hours later I walked out with a cassette tape of 16 songs I had written over the past year. I was hooked.

Whenever I could afford it, I booked studio time. I had started to share my recordings. I met Tommy J. He heard my music. He said I had to meet Dougie A. I played my songs for Dougie. He said I had to meet David Rivkin. Dougie arranged my studio session with David at Sound 80. We recorded a few songs. It was awesome. Rivkin, better known as David Z, helped create the smash hit “Funkytown” in 1980. Later, he produced “Purple Rain” and other works of Prince. He went on to win two Grammy awards as producer/mixer for Etta James in 2003 and 2004. At the time, I did not understand the musical magnitude surrounding me.

Rivkin was my sound engineer for many recording sessions from 1982 to 1986. During that time, we recorded “See The Sun” at every session. He started playing and recording bass lines. He would pick up my sweet Fender Strat and add a few guitar licks. Then he brought in Terry Grant of The Lamont Cranston Band to play bass. An arrangement was beginning to develop. Rivkin loved my song “See The Sun.” As I reflect, I’m sure it’s another reason why I believed in it. He believed in it.

Andy and I moved to Texas. Eventually a custody battle ensued. I flew back to Minnesota with Andy every three to four weeks. I’d book studio time and record with Rivkin each trip. He became a very close friend. The studio became my sacred space. Those three years were the hardest years of my life. It was a tumultuous time. I did not truly appreciate the peace that our recording sessions brought to me. I thrived on them. They made me strong. I brought Andy with me to some of my recording sessions. He sat on a nearby stool and sang his heart out. Every word without skipping a beat. The first time he was only six. Unknown to us at the time, the mic picked up his little voice and you can faintly hear him singing in the background of the recording. “See The Sun” is still one of Andy’s favorite songs. Mine, too. My dogs love it. The song just hangs around, like a friend.

The more I wrote, the more I booked studio time. Again and again. Wherever I lived. The studio truly became a treasured space – a good friend. The recording engineers, too.

I’ve sung “See The Sun” at every concert and gig. I begin or end my concerts with an unplugged version - just me and my guitar. When one of my dearest friends turned 40, I played it at her celebration. I played it at my mom’s memorial concert. The song is in me. It is me.

Friends. Whether you are together in person or miles away. A true friend is there in spirit. Always with you. It doesn’t matter whether you see each other every week or every five years. The warmth. The sunshine. The love. The unspoken understanding. It’s there.

Friends. They are everywhere. The forest, the birds, nature, water. They are my friends. I enter the path and the forest envelopes me with its fresh scents of pine, the smells and sounds of birds, animals, plants and trees all mixed together. The bird sings, the fish jumps and splashes, and the eagle soars over the lake. When I walk into the lake and begin to swim, I feel the water gather me in. It soothes my soul. It strengthens me. It brings me peace. I am one with the water. It’s spiritual. I am in paradise. Friends are everywhere. The sun is shining within me.

Friends. I have some pretty special friends. You know who you are. All unique. Out of the Ordinary. Some new. Some old. Some since kindergarten. 70+ years. Dogs I have had. Dogs I have now. My best friends. Total unconditional love. Nothing like it. Friends.

I treasure my friends. Some have come and gone. Some are with me every day. I’ve penned many poems about friendship since I was a little girl. The sun always appears in my songs, poems, cards, and stories. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.

The sun. Embrace its warmth. It is life. Like a friend. It is a gift. Treasure it.

“See the Sun,” the Story

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