Goodnight Soldier is a Tribute to our United States Armed Forces. It is a Prayer and a "Thank you" to all the members of the Armed Forces for protecting our Freedoms. This song has been performed for President Bush and featured on CBS and ABC Stations.

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TRACY - When Derek Clark wrote and recorded a patriotic anthem to convey his feelings about the men and women fighting the war in Iraq, he never thought he'd sing it in front of the commander in chief.

But he will.

The 35-year-old owner of a real estate and mortgage business in Tracy will play the song "Good Night, Soldier" at a fundraiser for Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, Tuesday morning at the Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium. President Bush is scheduled to attend the breakfast event.

"Good Night, Soldier"
(Verse 1)

It's late at night, I pray

For the Lord to guide your way

I've been watching news every day

I don't know you at all

But look at you standing tall

As America runs through your veins

(Chorus)

Good night, soldier, good night, friend

'Cause when I'm sleeping here at night

You're out protecting

Good night soldier, good night friend

Please come home, so I can see you again

(Verse 2)

There's a lot of moms and dads who care

Everyone's a son or daughter out there

Man, I've cried for love for you all

I've seen a lot of halos in the sky

Lord bless the ones who have died

Can you tie a yellow ribbon around us all.

(Repeat chorus)
"I've developed a relationship with Pombo and his staff, and they contacted me a couple of weeks ago about doing this," Clark said. "What an awesome opportunity."


Clark first received attention for the song in February after a friend submitted the song to a Bay Area radio talk show and the host played it on the air. Soon thereafter, Clark was playing and singing "Good Night, Soldier" for relatives of slain military personnel at Fourth of July picnics and an event for young people accepted into military academies.

His Web site devoted to the song, www.goodnightsoldier.com, has been viewed more than 450,000 times.

The site crashed Friday afternoon for about three hours because traffic was too heavy.

"It's been an amazing ride," he said.

Clark is not a veteran but was inspired to write the song almost two years ago after watching the acclaimed HBO documentary "Letters from Home." The online recording includes his son, Montgomery, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and his son, Ozmond, saying "I Love America."

"I think God helped me, because it came to me in a matter of minutes. The words came in a stream like from another world," Clark said. "I remember the first time I sang it for a family talent event, tears were rolling down my face."

After a few early performances, he said goodnight to "Good Night Soldier" and nearly forgot about it.

But when Tracy residents memorialized the fifth local person to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom - Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Christopher Dewey, 20, who was killed by a suicide car bomber in Al-Anbar province - Clark said the song's words came back to him in a rush.

Now, he'll sing them for the president.

"It's so humbling," Clark said. "I better have my emotions in check."