After more than five decades, Vietnam War veteran Bobby Gipson, 74, has finally brought his song “Heaven Shores” to life, a moving reflection shaped by memory, loss, and hope since returning home from war.
Written over 53 years ago, “Heaven Shores” captures a moment Bobby has carried with him since leaving Vietnam: looking out an airplane window and seeing the Pacific coastline for the first time as he returned to American soil.
“It looked like heaven to me,” Bobby recalled. “Those shores meant I made it home.”
For decades, the song remained unfinished until music, community, and healing came together through Life By Music’s Shoulder to Shoulder Veterans Program.
Healing Through Music: The Shoulder to Shoulder Veterans Program
In 2024, Bobby learned about Life By Music through his occupational therapist and decided to join the nonprofit’s Shoulder to Shoulder Veterans Program, a free guitar and songwriting class designed to help veterans heal through music and creative expression.
“I loved it from the moment I walked in,” Bobby shared. “It reminded me why I started playing in the first place.”
The program is led by Ryan Patrick, founder of Life By Music and lead guitarist of the RIAA Gold Certified rock band OTHERWISE. Through weekly sessions rooted in collaboration, storytelling, and shared experience, veterans are given space to reconnect with music and with one another.
Through their shared love of the guitar, Ryan and Bobby formed a bond that would reignite a song that had been waiting more than half a century to be heard.
Bringing “Heaven Shores” to Life
During the songwriting portion of Shoulder to Shoulder, Bobby shared “Heaven Shores” with the group. The song immediately stood out.
“The song stopped me in my tracks,” Ryan said. “I knew we had to record it — not just for Bobby, but for every veteran who never got the ‘Welcome Home’ they deserved.”
With the Life By Music team on board, Ryan produced “Heaven Shores” at his home studio, collaborating with Director of Operations Jessi Rose on backing vocals and Board Member Bob Diehm on keys to help complete the arrangement. The result is a soulful blend of storytelling and sound, honoring both personal healing and collective memory.
The song closes with a simple but powerful phrase:
“Welcome home.”
For many Vietnam veterans, those words were never spoken when they returned from war. Through “Heaven Shores,” they now resonate with generations of meaning.
Ryan has also incorporated the song and chord chart into an updated Shoulder to Shoulder curriculum, allowing Bobby’s story and music to continue inspiring fellow veterans for years to come.
A Timeless Anthem of Hope and Connection
Bobby’s journey reflects the heart of Life By Music’s mission: to use music as a bridge, connecting generations, healing unseen wounds, and creating space for expression, dignity, and light.
Life By Music continues to serve veterans, youth, and at-risk communities through music education, songwriting, and instrument access. Stories like Bobby’s remind us that it is never too late for a song to be heard.
May all who listen find their own Heaven Shores.
“Heaven Shores” releases Friday, February 6th, on all streaming platforms.