i've written a few songs myself, but they've been shelved for some time. but this post isn't about me. it's about a songwriter who i admire greatly. recently, i found out that stuart adamson, lead singer of the 80's scottish band big country(remember they had that song "in a big country"?), died of a apparent suicide. at first, i had been hearing this name all day that it was announced, and i couldn't quite place the name with the face. but then i found out exactly who it was, and didn't move for a good 30 minutes. i was very young when the song came out, but it has stuck with me for the past 20 years. it's a song about not giving up hope, and the uplifting background tune furthers that feeling. it was clear to me that adamson wanted out. he was a heavy drinker who had disappeared a month before his death. not even his own music could save him. news of stuart adamson's death will fade fast, i'm sure, since he hasn't had a hit record in 20 years, but i won't forget him.