Hughlett completes song begun by child Shae Harden (PlayBill blog)

Tuesday, June 21, is the release date for “Reflections,” Lubbock musician Cindy Hughlett’s eighth studio recording.

Hughlett told me that she is particularly happy to be able to record a tune called “Take Me Down the Road.”

It was Shae Harden who began writing the song. Years later, Hughlett finished it.

A bit of history:
Hughlett said that Shae was dining with her family at a Dallas restaurant, when she suffered an allergic reaction to something she ate. “She suffered apoplectic shock and died,” said Hughlett.

Shae Harden was an 11-year-old sixth grader when she passed away on Nov. 4, 2012.

Shortly before that day, Shae had told her mother, Lisa, “I’ve written a song.” But Shae was shy about sharing it until the song was finished.

Shae’s grandfather is one of Hughlett’s friends. He later shared with her the song lyrics that his granddaughter had composed.

Hughlett said, “The words were put into my hand, and I knew I wanted to finish Shae’s song. To emphasize that she is not forgotten, to show that she had created something beautiful. I wanted to help her finish telling her story.”

The song is called “Take Me Down the Road.”

It is included on Hughlett’s CD “Reflections.” Hughlett will perform this song during her appearance with Richie McDonald in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre. Concert tickets are $10.

Hughlett would later comment that, to be a good songwriter, she also must be a storyteller. Only some of the stories she tells in song are her own. Shae’s is not the first story conceived by another, only to be transformed into a professional song by Hughlett.

“Finished songs often wind up in first person,” explained Hughlett. “I want the words to have the most impact possible.”

Click HERE to read my interview with Lubbock singer-songwriter Cindy Hughlett.