'Cause You Are the Reason

Four decades, one song, and the woman who made it all mean something

I’m feeling a little sentimental. This one goes out to my wonderful wife…

I was just 18 when we found each other. You already had three beautiful little girls, and by choosing you, I chose them too. Back then, I was still trying to figure out life — stepping into the role of stepdad, hoping I could somehow be good enough.

Not long after, I landed an apprenticeship on the railroad that took me all over the map. I ended up in a remote spot in northern Ontario called Kukatush — just a small trailer beside the tracks, working two weeks on, one weekend off, with freight trains roaring by in the night.

One morning, sitting on the porch of that trailer with my coffee and guitar, I was really missing you. With the birds singing and the sun dancing on the rails, I started putting words and a melody together.

At 19, I knew there was no turning back — you were the reason I wanted to keep going.

A song was born: “The Road.” It’s always been about where I was, who I was, and who you were — the anchor, the meaning.

Life moved on, but the song stayed with me.

Years later, in 1999, I finally recorded it in my sparse basement studio. Just me, my old twelve-string, a rented keyboard, a microphone, and that same feeling that had never really left. I uploaded it online a few years ago, and it even broke into the top 50 on Soundclick. I’ve just moved it over to Soundcloud so I could share it here.

We’re here now, four decades on. We’ve weathered our share of storms, and while I know I didn’t always live up to the stepdad or husband I wanted to be, the girls have grown into confident, compassionate — truly amazing women.
And you’ve stuck it out with me, for better or worse. I’m so grateful for that. I cherish going to the gym with our middle daughter, having a coffee afterward — small things that mean everything to me.

We’re in the winter season of life now. When I think back to that lonely stretch of track in Kukatush, to that kid on the porch with a guitar, I realize nothing has really changed all that much. Because after all these years, these final lines in the song still say it best:

’cause you are the reason,
and you are the meaning,
and you are the best thing in my life.

The Road

Not so long ago, I was on a road
that went to nowhere.
Too far down the road, I couldn’t turn back,
there you were right in front of me.

I couldn’t get by you,
I couldn’t deny you,
’cause you were the reason for my life.

So I struggled, and I hurt you,
you never gave up.

I couldn’t get by you,
I couldn’t deny you,
’cause you were the reason for my life.

Now we’re together, with no stormy weather,
your happiness is my new goal.
I know that I love you, ’cause I want to,
you’ll always be my girl.

I don’t want by you,
I don’t deny you,
’cause you are the reason for my life.

I don’t want by you,
I don’t deny you,
’cause you are the reason,
and you are the meaning,
and you are the best thing in my life.