Steve Byrne: You Don’t Have To Be Strong

In my blog The Special One from a while ago, I name checked a friend called Steve Byrne and said this:

"It is amazing that somebody, even one, is prepared to commit their precious time to watching you do your thing on a regular basis.”

Steve was the fella who was my biggest supporter, sometimes my only supporter, musically, and I’m sad to say that he died yesterday.

We’ve known Steve our whole time in Kintyre, from when we first lived out in the sticks miles from anywhere 26 years ago. He was our nearest neighbour, living about 1/2 miles away and had also recently moved here. Straight upon meeting him he invited me round for a home made curry at his house.

That was typical. Steve was always outgoing and generous with his time and possessions. He was always on the side of the underdog. I know the loss of a sense of compassion in the highways and bye-ways of power over recent years has infuriated him. He was also a massive supporter of the Homesong idea, and attended pretty much every one that happened at our house and at Gareth and Lori Silvan’s house in Clachan.

Anyone who knew him will tell you he could blether for Scotland AND for Liverpool, and name drop (!) about all the things he was involved with. He did a lot of voluntary work for the Scottish Government regarding various issues, including in an advisory capacity for new tenancy legislation. That was ironic for us because, at his request, a few years ago we had ended up becoming the landlords of his flat, when the previous landlord sold, and he had asked us if we could or would take over.

It was in the attic of that flat where I recorded my only actual physical album so far “A Human Being”. And it was the first time he heard a particular song, which he has kindly been trying to get the whole world to listen to ever since, blowing my trumpet when I was too shy to blow it myself.

I’d like to link to the stripped back version of that (which he always preferred) in memory of Steve, and with a tear in my eye.

You Don’t Have To Be Strong. RIP Steve Byrne.