Autism is difficult to understand, but Johnny Orr Band shines light on the disorder, trying to help us on the outside better comprehend it. It’s an incredible music video that features autistic children going on with their day, showing us the difficulties they and their parents run into.
Johnny Orr wrote this song for a friend of his, Candi Spitz, who has autistic twin boys. In an exclusive interview with Autism Daily Newscast, Johnny explains the writing process:
“I pulled from stories that Candi wrote me in emails about her struggles, and then I began researching most of the day online about other stories of struggle and inspiration too. I really simply wrote this song for the Spitz family to have for themselves. So I decided to write it from a child’s perspective. Hoping that Candi would hear words from her children that she had never heard before. Who knew that this would wind up being the story of so many 1000’s of other wonderful families that struggle with this too.”
Johnny admits to knowing very little about autism before researching it for his song.
“That’s why we are trying to be so proactive about it now. It needs to be evident,” he tells Autism Daily Newscast, “Everyone needs to understand it in order to be effective in the acceptance of it in our homes, schools, restaurants and public areas of our lives. It’s everywhere and it’s sometimes passed off as a spoiled or abused child, or weird co-worker and that’s just NOT acceptable.”
“We’ll Get By” was released on Johnny Orr Band’s EP, Down South. You can check out the official music video below, as well as an in depth explanation.
WE’LL GET BY (THE AUTISM SONG) LYRICS
Maybe I don’t speak too well, but I’m coming outta my shell
And I like playing by myself if you can’t tell
I like to go to school, yeah I’m a miracle, and I’m glad to be alive
If you’ll wait patiently, well then eventually,
I will understand the words that you’re saying to me
My autism, is like a prison, that I’m in
I share my heart but only in my mind,
I share my pain when I scream at night
I can’t express to you, what I’m going through,
The only way is for me to cry
Mom I see your fear, through every single tear
Just to know I’ve caused you pain from inside of here
My autism, is like a prison, that I’m in
I share your joy but only in my mind
You show me love but just not in my time
Cause my reality, takes everything in me
To make it through without a fight
I know you love me, when you hug me,
And when I hear you pray to God for Him to heal me
Maybe one day, you won’t have to pray
And I won’t have to see you cry
Maybe one day, I won’t be this way,
Until then we’ll get by
