I had BBC Radio 2 country music show on tonight. Singer Brad Paisley spoke about a new song he wrote. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-paisley-ukraine-brad-paisley-grammy-b2288659.html

Brad Paisley pens country song featuring Ukraine's Zelenskyy
Country star Brad Paisley is releasing a new song that features Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Kristin M. Hall

"... ...The West Virginia native wrote the song with Lee Thomas Miller (co-writer on Paisley hits “The World” and “Perfect Storm”) and Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith. It's a three-part narrative that reflects on universal similarities, despite distance and language.

"While it doesn't mention Ukraine specifically, the song ends with Paisley and Zelenskyy in conversation, recorded during a video call. Zelenskyy talks about Ukrainians' desire for freedom, adding 'There is no distance between our two countries in such values.'

"'There’s just no differences," Paisley told The Associated Press. 'You can put us in different places with different flags and different languages, but we have so many similarities.'

"Paisley is one of several celebrity ambassadors for Ukraine's United24 crowdfunding effort, and has donated his time for other fundraising efforts to assist Ukrainians. But even he thought it would be a long shot to have the direct involvement of Zelenskyy, who has traveled the world advocating for Ukraine's military and recovery efforts.

“I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart," Paisley said of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comedian before becoming president.

"He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it's a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.”

Zelenskyy didn't just sign off on the song; he also suggested some changes to it, Paisley said.

Paisley's royalties for the song will be donated to United24 to help build housing for thousands of displaced Ukrainians whose homes were destroyed in the war, he said. Using his platform to advocate for causes important to him has always been part of his career, whether it was opening a free grocery store in Nashville with his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or fighting hunger by donating 1 million meals during the pandemic.

'I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t sort of swing for the fence with things like this,' Paisley said. 'For me, I’m happiest dealing with stuff as a songwriter that’s very true and very, very passionate. And sometimes I don’t know if you’d call it risky, but it’s more like it’s bigger than me.'

"Paisley brings his passion on stage during live shows. He's been changing the lyrics to his hit song 'American Saturday Night,' for instance, to replace a reference to the U.S.S.R. to 'There's a Ukrainian flag hanging up behind the bar.' ... ..."

[Verse 1: Brad Paisley]
How are things in California?
I hear the traffic's just insane
Plastic people and paparazzi
Yeah, I know all the left coast clichés

[Chorus 1: Brad Paisley]
But tell me, is there a bar on your corner
Where you buy each other beers
And solve all the world's problems?
Same here

[Verse 2: Brad Paisley]
We went out to watch the sunset
On our last night in Cozumel
Stumbled on some local wedding
On the beach by our hotel
No, I didn't know the language
I recognized the tears
People cry when they're happy
Same here

[Chorus 2: Brad Paisley]
However you talk, whatever you think
From the songs that you sing to the drink that you drink
If you miss your mama and worry 'bout your babies
And love each other like crazy

And want someone to share your hopes and fears
Same here

[Verse 3: Brad Paisley]
I've got a friend across the ocean
Seems like a million miles away
He says our worlds are very different
Yeah, that's true, but I gotta say

[Chorus 3: Brad Paisley]
He's got his own kind of football team that
Let's him down every year
A wife he loves and a bunch of dreams
For his country he holds so dear
He prays for peace and freedom
Same here

[Brad Paisley, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy]
Hi, Brad
Hello, Mr. President
Happy to see you
What's "Same here" in Ukrainian?
??? ????. We speak different languages in our life. Yes, but I think we appreciate the same things - children, freedom, our flag, our soldiers, our people. The biggest treasure we have. And friends. And we're proud of our army who defends our freedom and will defend our lives.

[Outro: Brad Paisley, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy]
However you talk, whatever you think
From the songs that you sing to the drink that you drink
We're fighting for our children, our parents to defend our houses and families
And love each other like crazy
And want someone to share your hopes and fears
??? ????. There is no distance between our countries in such values. That is very important to see that they are, ah, really in many, in many things really the same.

https://genius.com/Brad-paisley-same-here-lyrics
sound file on page