Cover art for the song (Jesse Roads)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19), rdnewsNOW

Red Deer musician releases cover song for Canadian Mental Health Association

Apr 27, 2020 | 10:46 AM

The times, they are unprecedented, and some would say downright dangerous.

They are times when we need to take good care of each other, be it through virtual hangouts, a simple text, or even through song — and all for the benefit of our mental health.

That encapsulates the mindset of Red Deer musician Jesse Roads, who has released a cover of the well-known Canadian song ‘Lovers in a Dangerous Time.’

Originally recorded in 1984 by Ottawa’s Bruce Cockburn, and covered by the Barenaked Ladies in 1991, ‘Lovers’ is a track Roads says is apropos for the times we’re in.

That’s why all the proceeds from downloads and plays of the track on Spotify, Deezer and TikTok will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

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“I think we all have a personal connection when it comes to the well-being of society’s mental health. I’ve personally been through a lot of trauma in my life, especially in the last 10 years,” he explains.

“I do believe it’s important, especially in these times, where we’re sitting here and people are expected to stand still and think and exist while everything plays out, and people are at home more with their kids, doing school work, it’s a no-brainer that there will be some mental health fallout from this.”

Roads, who grew up in the Lethbridge/Taber area and has had a 22-year music career, says while he doesn’t anticipate the track or the money he donates to help people completely clear their mental health hurdles, perhaps it will start a conversation.

“That’s all it can take to garner a clear head. It’s perfectly friggin’ natural to be in a mental health crisis right now. You can’t tell me that when the president is talking about injecting disinfectant, people aren’t going to get worried,” he half-jokes.

“Plus, for a lot of people in the music community like myself, their source of therapy is being on stage and playing. There are thousands of us across Canada really struggling with the fact we can’t go on stage and have that release.”

The cover was recorded at Roads’s home in Red Deer, while bass guitar was recorded by band member Scott Wiber, and Jake Field provided the keys and piano from his current residence in England.

Roads says once the pandemic is over they can get back to performing live with drummer Sam Leszczynski, which is when he believes the track will really come alive.

In addition, Roads and company are producing a music video and need your help. They are canvassing worldwide for selfies of you and your loved one(s) [in these dangerous times] to be featured in the video which they hope to release sometime in May. Selfies can be submitted to the Jesse Roads Facebook page.