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Story Behind the Song: 'Where Angels Hang Around,' James Otto

James Otto talked to The Boot about the touching ballad he wrote with Monty Criswell.

That song was written about a friend of Monty's whose child was diagnosed with cancer. He asked me if it was something that would be too heavy to write about. I related it to my mother-in-law [who had] breast cancer and how it affected me -- I was so afraid when it happened. You put it in reverse and go, 'How hard would it be to see your child go through cancer?' It's horrible. I can't imagine anything worse. So we tried to put ourselves in the position of being a father, what would you be going through. I ended up going to St Jude [Children's Research Hospital] a few years later and got to know some of the kids and doctors and see what they do there. I really found a reason to put the song on my record while I was there. I didn't have any experience with it necessarily until then, so it really took hold there.

Read the lyrics | Download the song

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nascarholly5368

I love James Otto SO much!!! (big smile)

God bless you and him always!!!

Holly in East Tennessee

July 01 2009 at 3:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bad kitty

I lost both of my grandparents to cancer, along with some very dear friends.... My heart goes out to families who lose loved ones due to this terrible disease..I had a breast cancer scare about 10 years ago, which thank God, it was benign. I also had a scare with my oldest daughter a couple of years ago when we thought she had leukemia. Turns out the test was negative!!

June 04 2009 at 4:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
marcjknott

to donnab73...I'm so sorry for your loss. Don't know what I'd do or how I'd handle such a loss, my heart goes out to you. The loss of a loved one is bad enough, but the loss of a child, the thought of that just breaks my heart for you. Just thinking about what you had to endure along with watching her go through it all. God bless you and my prayers will be with you also...

June 04 2009 at 1:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sissy

my daughter died from brain cancer...had 5 tumors within 1 year.

June 03 2009 at 10:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply