Sir Dave Dobbyn 'Welcome Home' 4-3-23 by Roslyn Nijenhuis

I went to Selwnyn Sounds Music Festival, not for the first time. Covid canceled last year, but this year had a great lineup with the headline act being our most celebrated songwriter and musician, Sir Dave Dobbyn. We enjoyed his hits, but his 'Welcome Home’ was his last song and my choice of all of the band's music to share with you first. I saw Dave play this song at the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service in March 2011, witnessing another moment in history. This iconic song will surely get Kiwis to yearn for our homeland. No matter where you are in the world, you are always a kiwi at heart. In 2005, Dave released his sixth solo album; 'Available Light'. The album received popular and critical acclaim. In the same year, Dave performed this lead single from Available Light, "Welcome Home" Dave performed the lead single from Available Light, "Welcome Home" at the New Zealand Music Awards 2005 ceremony. During the performance, Ahmed Zaoui, who was appealing a security certificate issued due to alleged links to terrorist groups, appeared on stage with Dave. In these 2005 New Zealand Music Awards Dave won the Songwriter of the Year for Welcome Home." He also won the Best Male Solo Artist with 'Available Light'. Dave wrote in a Facebook post, on 14-10-22 he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The 65-year-old said “I’ve found it gives me a wider appreciation of life. Of late I have a tremor in my right hand which gives my guitar playing a new kind of twang. I have to do what I love, so it’s business as usual and on with the show, singing all the way." This song is well-travelled, including a performance for Kiwi War veterans with Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family at the London dedication of the War Memorial. Video by Roslyn Nijenhuis photography. Kia ora Sir Dave, I for the first time ever intentionally included myself in this video (at 3.35) with my hand briefly reacting to your beautiful lyric representing a wahine, 'There's a woman with her hands trembling'. Having captured the hand and arms quite dramatically at a minute of this video, we later experience the crowds swinging their arms and hands while having heard the thousands singing welcome home from the start to the end of this anthemic song. Video by yours truly ‪@roslynnijenhuis5037‬ #roslynnijenhuis #concert #davedobbyn Lyrics to 'Welcome Home' Tonight I am feeling for you Under the state of a strange land You have sacrificed much to be here There but for grace as I offer my hand Welcome home, I bid you welcome, I bid you welcome Welcome home from the bottom of my heart Out here on the edge The empire is fading by the day And the world is so weary in war Maybe we'll find that new way So welcome home, see I made a space for you now Welcome home from the bottom of our heart Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts Keep it coming now keep it coming now You'll find most of us here with our hearts wide open Keep it coming now keep on coming now Keep it coming now keep on coming now There's a woman with her hands trembling And she sings with a mountain's memory There's a cloud the full length of these isles Just playing chase with the sun And it's black and it's white and it's wild All the colours are one So welcome home, I bid you welcome, I bid you welcome Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts Welcome home, see I made a space for you now Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts From the bottom of our hearts Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Taylor / Whitaker Welcome Home lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music LLC