Jonus Preston had been consumed with perfecting his technique and precision as a jazz musician when the tragedy at Sandy Hook took place on Dec. 14th, 2012.
Sharing in the sorrow, anger, and frustration, Jonus Preston did what any songwriter would do… He picked up his guitar and began to play.
The result is the powerful song “Tears In Vain” which Jonus has dedicated to the victims.
“I am giving a musical voice to a cause I feel very strongly about. ‘Tears In Vain’ is dedicated to the victims. It is a song meant to inspire a change for gun reform in America,” the New York City-based artist says. The shootings transpired while he was vacationing. “It got me upset and then pissed off,” Preston says candidly. “There needs to be more gun reform in order to make this a safer country.”
All proceeds from sales of the single go to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Preston was pulled into the fight of gun advocacy early in his life. At 12 years old, after watching Michael Moore’s film Bowling For Columbine, Jonus became a staunch advocate for the gun control movement.
Jonus was influenced in his younger years by Bob Dylan, Hendrix, and Clapton. He then became heavily influenced by jazz and soon European gypsy jazz became his focus.
In college, Mr. Preston founded the popular acoustic jazz band String Bustin’ Cats. Soon after, he began working as a professional musician touring North America with appearances at the Montreal JazzFest, SXSW, and The Strawberry Folk Festival.
Go grab your copy of “Tears In Vain” and help Jonus support the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence.
Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.
We have included the lyrics to the song below.
Lyrics
Tears In Vain
All the times we’ve seen it on the news
Roll the dice we’ve all got someone to lose
You can bet we’ve all heard their names
When we forget we let their tears be in vain
Make believe we get a second chance
Would you see the choice is in our hands
If you could look into their faces one more time
And you knew that you could save them you’d change your mind
But they’re all so stubborn with a grip on their arms
While the kids run for cover from a shot through the heart
And they scream for their mothers
Mama won’t ya tell us what have we done?
If we sit while someone drives the bus
Off a cliff then who are we to trust
The ones who say that there’s nothing to be done
We must change the game and put down our guns
But they’re all so stubborn with a grip on their arms
While the kids take cover from a shot through the heart
And they scream for their mothers
Mama won’t ya tell us what have we done?
Don’t forget that
Don’t forget that
Don’t forget those kids did not shed their tears in vain
Don’t forget those kids did not shed their tears in vain
We can change the fate for the others
So the kids won’t have to suffer
And then scream for their mothers
We won’t stand by the stubborn with a grip on their arms
While the kids run for cover from a shot through the heart
And they scream for the mothers
Mama won’t ya tell us what have we done?
