Hit songwriter Craig Bickhardt has released a song written for his son, Jake, who has Cerebral Palsy. The song was posted this week on his popular blog, Ninety Mile Wind — www.ninetymilewind.blogspot.com. It is also available for free download from his website at www.craigbickhardt.com, or it can be streamed from his My Space page — www.myspace.com/craigbickhardt — where it has been garnering a lot of listener response. The song, titled “Giant Steps”, speaks inspiringly about the father-son relationship and the challenges both face as they tackle life with a disability.

“You’re just a little boy clinging to your father’s hand
Your legs are working hard keeping up with your old man”

But Bickhardt’s confidence in his son’s future carries the song to an optimistic conclusion.

“Soon the day will come when you’ll run ahead of me
Certain of yourself and what you’re gonna be
But whenever you stumble and lose your stride
May you never lose the boy down inside
Taking Giant Steps”

He posts an accompanying journal entry in his blog further highlighting the difficulties of life with a Special Needs child.

“There are days when life with my son is challenging, and a dark horizon looms three hundred and sixty degrees around me. And then there are those days of singing blue sky, when I know I’m a lucky to have him. On those days my heart is an eagle’s feather and I am made for rough winds.”

Bickhardt, a former Nashville resident who has written award winning songs for Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, B. B. King, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Art Garfunkel, David Wilcox, Tony Rice, Pam Tillis (#1 song, “Between Dances”) and many others, is currently on tour in the north east. He will be appearing in at The Sellersville Theater with Beth Nielsen Chapman, and also at The Philadelphia Folk Festival in August. His other music is available through itunes, CD Baby.com, Amazon.com, and his website www.craigbickhardt.com