Millionaire
If you’re a long-time reader of this column, you know the United States national anthem The Star-Spangled Banner holds a special place in Marsh family hearts. Back in 2018, my gifted sister Melodie (@langsidemusic) opened a USA vs Canada Ice Hockey match in Sydney with a beautiful rendition of the exceptional US anthem.
You can read more about it here and pick up some tips from our parents, Dads4Kids founders Warwick and Alison Marsh. It was certainly a proud Marsh family moment!
There’s something special about The Star-Spangled Banner. Perhaps it’s the strong bond our nations share, forged in the Battle for Australia during World War 2. I certainly respect and appreciate American exceptionalism.
Both the USA and Australia were founded on Judeo-Christian values, and recent political developments in the US have given me, a regular Aussie bloke, hope for the future of the free world.
So, when I heard Chris Stapleton’s version of The Star-Spangled Banner to open Super Bowl LVII, I had spine-tingles. Like many of the red-blooded American footballers on the telecast, I may have even shed a tear or two. It’s well worth a watch.
Kentucky-born singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer Chris Stapleton is a 10x Grammy, 16x CMA and 15x ACM Award-winner and a respected and beloved US musician. He’s a big man with an even bigger voice. As is so often the case in the music industry, he’s a 20–30-year overnight success.
My family and I are big fans, but one of the best things about Stapleton is his wife Morgane. Married since 2007, they often perform together and blend beautifully on classic tracks such as You Should Probably Leave, Broken Halos, and the toe-tapping Arkansas.
According to the interwebs, Stapleton has said he struggles with stage fright, but having Morgane by his side is a great support. When he and singer-songwriter Dua Lipa performed Think I’m In Love With You together at the ACM Awards, the Stapletons had eyes only for each other. During the performance, Lipa even steps back to ensure she doesn’t interrupt Chris and Morgane’s electric chemistry.
As we enter December, a time to celebrate The Greatest Gift, may I share with you the lyrics to another Stapleton classic, Millionaire, written by Kevin Welch:
They say, “Love is more precious than gold”
Can’t be bought and it can’t be sold
I got love enough to spare
That makes me a millionaireI got a woman with eyes that shine
Down deep as a diamond mine
She’s my treasure so very rare
She’s made me a millionaireWhen we ride around, ride around this old town
In my beat-up car, with the windows down
People look at her and they look at me
And say, “That boy is sure living in luxury”
Sweet luxuryBecause love is more precious than gold
It can’t be bought, never could be sold
I got love enough to share
That makes me a millionaireWhen the kisses fall from everywhere
Like riches on, a millionaire
When my pockets are empty and my cupboard is bare
I still feel like a millionaire‘Cause love is more precious than gold
It can’t be bought, no, and it can’t be sold
I got love enough to spare
That makes me a millionaire
As @tylerwetzel770 commented on Stapleton’s Millionaire YouTube video, ‘The way these two look at each other when they perform, that’s what love looks like.’ I couldn’t agree more!
Lovework
If you’re blessed as I am to have a beautiful wife and children, count yourself as ‘living in luxury’. Even if your pockets are empty (as mine often are), consider yourself abundantly blessed to have family in your life. If you can, ride around town with your family this December, with the windows down, play Stapleton’s Millionaire, and make sure you play it loud.
Yours for love more precious than gold,
Nathaniel Marsh
P.S.: 3rd December 2024 is Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement to unleash the power of radical generosity around the world. Please keep an eye on your inbox this upcoming Tuesday to find out more about Dads4Kids’ vision to Build Men, Grow Fathers, and Change Generations.
If you’re encouraged by our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation here.
___
Republished with thanks to Dads4Kids. Image courtesy of Adobe.
One Comment
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
22 January 2025
5.5 MINS
Donald Trump has been inaugurated as president of the United States for the second time. While there may be surface political change and new political dynamics, what about the state of civilisation?
21 January 2025
2.7 MINS
Whether he realised it or not, Federal Court judge Peter Tree has laid the responsibility for the continued use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children — despite increasing international caution — firmly at the feet of the New South Wales Government.
-
20 January 2025
3.2 MINS
Late last year, Joshua Stylman, a husband, father, entrepreneur and investor from the US state of New York, penned a thought-provoking piece for the Brownstone Institute: "From Marcus Aurelius to Omar Little: A Man’s Code is Vital".
17 January 2025
2.4 MINS
Last Wednesday night, the Canberra Declaration officially launched our 21 days of prayer and fasting for life (the unborn). Each year in Australia, about the same number of people are lost to abortion as all the wars we've ever been involved in. This is a tragedy of tragedies.
-
15 January 2025
2.6 MINS
In anticipation of these 21 days of prayer and fasting for life (19 January to 8 February), the Canberra Declaration will hold a Zoom prayer meeting on Wednesday night (15 January). And you are invited!
-
13 January 2025
2.3 MINS
Where confusion over sexuality abounds today, the Australian Creed brings crisp clarity to this deeply personal and vitally important biblical teaching. And the impact of the creed is growing.
-
13 January 2025
8.1 MINS
Jason Smith and his wife Paulina, in their Purposeful Parenting scheme, have designed various rites of passage for their teen children centering on fun, responsibility and service as they mature into adulthood. Read on to glean some ideas about how to shape your teen's destiny with such memorable moments.
As a husband of one wife for almost 49 years, a father of five and a grandfather of 11, I say a resounding AMEN to your post ,Nathaniel.
By far the best thing I’ve ever done is marry my wife.
Also like you my pockets are often empty. However, God blesses those who have a generous heart. That has been my experience, time and again.