‘You Should Be Here’: Cole Swindell Dedicates Emotional Performance To Orlando Victims

YouTube/Stacey Williams

During a time when the entire country is mourning from the horrific shooting in Orlando, many musicians are paying tribute to the victims the only way they know how – through music.

Orlando country radio station K92.3 put together a benefit concert called Country Strong: Orlando’s Night Of Healing & Country Music. Billy Currington, Jerrod Niemann, Maddie & Tae, Easton Corbin, Michael Ray, Cole Swindell, Parmalee, and Tyler Farr all performed.

In the most heartbreaking way, Swindell’s hit song “You Should Be Here” was the perfect song to sing for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

The song was originally written about Swindell’s father who passed away unexpectedly while he was on a radio tour and didn’t get to see his big success.

In the song, he tells his dad, “You should be here, standing with your arm around me here. / Cutting up, cracking a cold beer, saying cheers, hey y’all it’s sure been a good year. / It’s one of those moments, that’s got your name written all over it. / And you know that if I had just one wish it’d be that you didn’t have to miss this. / Aw you should be here.

This time, Swindell was telling the 49 victims who lost their lives, “You should be here.”

Just hearing him sing those words will give you chills. Fans held up their cellphones and waved them from side to side. It was a sight to see.

Watch the performance below.

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About the Author

Jennifer Pernicano

Hi! I'm Jen, a Southern California-based country music fan. One of my favorite things to do is go to a country concert and experience the art of storytelling in person. There truly is nothing else like it!

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