Cape Cora singer-songwriter Madison Morris and his wife Melissa wrote “We’re All Still Here” — a heart-string-tugging anthem of loss, strength and resilience. COURTESY OF MELISSA MORRIS

The power of song can be a strong force in this world, especially following a devastating event.

That’s why local singer-songwriter Madison Morris decided to vent the best way he knew how following Hurricane Ian –­ through his music.

Morris, along with his wife Melissa Morris, penned the tug-at-your-heartstrings resilience anthem “We’re All Still Here.”

The bluesy-country song details the experiences Morris, and many residents, went through on Sept. 28, 2022, and in the aftermath.

The couple, who have resided in Cape Coral since 2006, were forced to relocate after Ian churned through Southwest Florida, as their rental home by the Yacht Club took on 3 feet of water.

COURTESY OF MELISSA MORRIS

Having got some frustrations out through a social media post in the aftermath, Morris and Melissa expanded upon those thoughts, crafted them, and worked them into lyrics over a guitar. They could have never imagined the impact it would have on the community.

“It’s been interesting from a songwriter’s point of view to see it go from something that started as a very kind of sad release of emotion, and now when I play it, there’s kind of an ‘anthem’ feel,” Morris said.

“It makes me feel great that people find meaning in the song,” Melissa added. “Even people that weren’t here for the hurricane, there’s some messaging in the song that can be something they relate to.”

The song has been No. 1 on local US41 Radio for eight weeks and has amassed more than 200,000 views across social media.

So, how did it all come together?

“We sat up one night and wrote the song,” Morris, 38, said. “I usually have this big idea of what a song should be, and I write out a long story. (For this song), it just happened to be my Facebook post right after the storm where I kind of put my thoughts into one place. Melissa is very organized and keeps me together, so she pretty much sat here and worked it down into short form. And I had a guitar chord progression that was just waiting on something, and it paired just great. It was more of a therapeutic thing for us even to get our thoughts down into one spot and just try and describe what we’ve been thorough because it’s so significant. And significant for a lot of people.”

The smooth vocal stylings and guitar strumming, coupled with powerful lyrics, makes this song hit home to all that went through Ian.

Lyrics such as, “I look into my neighbor’s eyes, and all I see is pain” and “hoping it was all a nightmare on the Lee County shore,” paint a picture of exactly the heartache and loss felt with the storm.

There are also messages of resilience. Morris sings: “Just like the people of the islands, you know we’ll carry on.

“We lost a good few, but those of us that remain, we’ll raise a beer.” And of course, “We’re all still here.”

As a guitarist, Morris is simply and purposefully genre-defying by being able to marry his tone and style that he has developed over 20 years of practice to anything from country to electronic dance to R&B/hip-hop.  Being raised with Texas blues at the helm of his musical influence, Madison focuses on the entire range of the guitar. 

Morris said he and Melissa had been working to take the next step in his musical journey, moving from place to place, when the storm hit. Morris said the standstill thrust him more into the local music scene, as before Ian he was looking to mostly craft his original tracks and perform at festivals.

“I started playing locally at some of the events after the hurricane,” Morris said. “It was really good to see the music community come to life after that.

“It really made me start playing out to local crowds in the Cape, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, and Naples.”

He recalls hearing stories from people, what they had just gone through, and how they’re all lucky to still be here.

“It was a wild experience. It really was,” Morris said. “It’s been a real wild ride this whole past year.”

Morris said he plans to take revenue generated from the song on social media to give back to the community. He is no stranger to being a voice for the community, as Morris has previously run for Cape Coral City Council and served in prominent civic roles.

He will be performing during the Island Hopper Music Festival on Sept. 29 at 8:15 p.m. at the Yucatan Beach Stand on Fort Myers Beach, just one day after the one year anniversary of Ian.

“I’m probably going to have to pull it together to play that one,” Morris said.

Since the song debuted, Morris has released his album, and hopes this song can be a vehicle to something bigger down the line. The song has even been submitted as a nomination to a very prestigious music awards show.

“I’m much more of a guitarist and settling in to the fact that I’ll just play guitar for somebody else, and then this song kind of gave me that second jolt to give it one more try,” Morris said.  

For more information on Morris, his music, and to watch the “We’re All Still Here” music video, visit www.madisonmorrismusic.com.