Holly Cahill recalls being proud of her father’s profession while growing up but also, on the flip side, being a little sad — and afraid.
The south Orange County resident believed being a police officer was a noble calling, but she also worried about her father, Dan, coming home safe every night.
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“As a little kid, it’s hard to sit in bed and not understand why your dad has to be on the front lines and why there are so many people out there who don’t appreciate what police officers do,” says Cahill, 17.
The multi-instrument singer/songwriter recently put that sentiment to music and words in an original song that is gaining traction in the law enforcement community and beyond.
Cahill, who started playing guitar when she was 12, wrote, “You Still Put the Uniform On” as a tribute to her father (Dan Cahill now is deputy chief of the Anaheim PD) as well as peace officers everywhere.
Cahill first performed her song, a 4-minute acoustic-guitar tune with an upbeat tempo and bright chords, in mid-May at the APD’s annual promotion and awards ceremony.
Most recently, she performed “You Still Put the Uniform On” on Sept. 11 at the National Day of Service and Remembrance ceremony hosted by the APD and Anaheim Fire & Rescue at the City National Grove of Anaheim.
Following the 9/11 performance in front of several hundred people, police officers and, especially, their family members told Cahill “You Still Put the Uniform On,” now available on iTunes, brought them to tears.
“You Still Put the Uniform On”
Lyrics and music by Holly Cahill
People will talk, though they don’t understand
Situations you’re in can get so out of hand
They’ll state their lies as if they are fact
Once the damage is done you can’t take it back
You do your best to protect and serve
But are treated in ways that you don’t deserve
They call you names and spit in your face
But if you weren’t there, who would take your place?
Cause you spend your life in danger, could take a bullet for a stranger, always have to be brave and tough
Though it’ll never be enough
And when they are critical of you
They should walk a mile in your shoes
The days are hard, the nights are long
But you still put the uniform on
You come home from work
And kiss your kids on the head
Chase monsters from the streets
And out from under their beds
What they don’t understand is that you’re human too
Just trying to survive, got a family counting on you
You do your best to protect and serve
But are treated in ways that you don’t deserve
They call you names and spit in your face
But if you weren’t there, who would take your place?
Would you take your place?
Cause you spend your life in danger, could take a bullet for a stranger, always have to be brave and tough
Though it’ll never be enough
And when they are critical of you
They should walk a mile in your shoes
The days are hard, the nights are long
But you still put the uniform on
Too many gone, too many lost
Is it all worth it?
What is the cost?
Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters,
Got so much to lose, why do you bother?
But you always choose to…
spend your life in danger, and take a bullet for a stranger
Cause you spend your life in danger, could take a bullet for a stranger, always have to be brave and tough
Though it’ll never be enough
And when they are critical of you
They should walk a mile in your shoes
The days are hard, the nights are long
But you still put the uniform on
You still put the uniform on
You still put the uniform on
You still put that uniform on
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