Heather Martin - When Are You Coming Home
5429 Views · March 24th, 2007
Wonder why this 6-year-old girl receives so much attention when singing a song written by her mother?
Almost 2 million views of this heart-touching video.
View this most inspirational award video clip.
CACHE, Okla. (UMNS) - Six-year-old Heather Martin, accompanied only by her mother on piano, has become an overnight Internet sensation for a song performed at their rural Oklahoma church.
Written for her brother Shaun serving in Iraq, the song became one of YouTube’s most requested videos of all time in December after a member at Cache First United Methodist Church recorded and posted Heather’s performance on the video-sharing Web site. The video had received 1.7 million hits as of early February.
“My friend called me Christmas Eve and she says, ‘They’ve featured your video and the numbers are just going up and up,’” Cindy Martin said of her daughter’s video. “She said, ‘It’s going to snowball.’ And sure enough, she was right. It’s snowballed.”
Since then, the song has aired on radio station KMGZ-FM in nearby Lawton, Okla., and has become a hit among soldiers overseas.
“I’ve seen an incredible outpouring from the community and from the church,” said the Rev. Jennifer Long, the family’s pastor, who in 2003 lost a family member in a grenade attack in Iraq. “It’s opened a lot of hearts to let out some things that people have been holding in.”
Cindy wrote “When Are You Coming Home?” after learning that 22-year-old Shaun would not be home for Christmas. She and Heather performed the song to give Shaun as a Christmas gift.
“When I had told (Heather) that he wasn’t going to be home for Christmas, she reacted so sadly,” Cindy said. “When I was writing the words, I thought it just really made sense that … it should be written from her point of view.”
The video was recorded during a church service.
Lyrics: When Are You Coming Home
You were almost sixteen when I came into the world.
Mom and Dad had you first then 3 more boys I’m the baby girl.
I sure have a lot to look up to in you, you’re really smart and funny with a big heart too.
After one year of college you knew what you had to do.
It’s just like you wanting to help with the war.
So you joined the army when I was only 4.
This time of year we talk of big plans but you’re over seas in some distant land.
You can’t be here for Christmas, I don’t understand.
Chorus:
When are you coming home, Shaun?
When are you coming home?!
We lit up the house like we always do but it doesn’t seem bright ’cause we can’t have you.
In my prayers I ask God to keep you safe.
And I’m trying to be really brave.
Tell me that the fighting’s through.
Come home!
I really miss you.
It’s hard to enjoy the holidays without you.
But we’re so proud of you and all the red white and blue.
Remember that Jesus is your best friend,
And someday our families will be together again.
Wow! You know we’ll have a great big party then.
Chorus
I want to show you how tall I’ve grown and introduce you to my new friends at school.
Maybe we could go and get some ice cream together but I really don’t care what we do.
Chorus
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kayla ledden said,
May 30, 2007OMFG that was the most beautiful and touching thing i have ever heard. my heart goes out to this little girl and her mother. i pray to god that shaun comes home soon and they’re all together again. he’s doing something that many people can’t have the courage to do. and for that, i honor him. i know america honors him too.
its men like that who make us proud to be americans. hearing that little girl sing that song opened my eyes to the pain that families are suffering without our troops. god bless them all. 
any one who is reading this, know that our troops miss us as much as we miss them, and without them there would be no us. think of that everytime you put on ur anti war shirts or everytime you shout out your hate vows. they’re fighting for your right to be cruel. if you can honestly believe that what our loved ones are doing in the mid. east is wrong, then you don’t belong here. again GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS. and may he bring them back to us safe and sound. ur a brave girl heather and mom. stay strong. america is pulling for you.
Jennifer said,
November 22, 2007Thanks Heather. I just can’t stop the tears… I’m Canadian, and my boyfriend is in Afghanistan. He won’t be here for Christmas either. I miss him, and will sure miss him more during the holidays. I’m six months pregant, and it is so lovely to hear you sing this song. Thanks again.
Jeaneth Crying said,
December 6, 2007When are you coming home?!
Judy Shaun' s wife said,
December 18, 2007OMG This makes me think of my Shaun and my son and what he would say at that age..
Shelly said,
December 23, 2007Wow! Heather really does a great job with this song. Having someone at her age sing a song like this for her brother shows the world that every little heart is effected. I am so proud to hear this song. I remember a few years ago thinking the same thing when my uncle was in the Army over in Iraq for the hoildays. It is not easy, but remember just as ya are praying for all the troops, the troops are praying for all of ya. This is both mine and my boyfriends first year together for Christmas. It is also both of our’s first year as seriving as Active Duty Airmen in the United States Air Force. We are not stationed together either. But this year we got lucky to be able to spend Christmas together on his base. I know Shaun and all the other troops out there will make it home soon and safe. Just thank God for what we have chose to do and he will keep watch over us always. God Bless and Merry Christmas!
janie said,
December 29, 2007Heather is trully an amazing girl. I applaude her. And thank you, shaun, for serving this country, and keeping hold to our freedom. im seventeen, and im joining the army this summer. i hope to have the support from my family like yours.