A Waynesboro family is celebrating positive reaction to their patriotic song, which could become another American classic like Lee Greenwood‘s “God Bless the U.S.A.” and Toby Keith‘s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
OneFamily Band is two couples: Matt and Holly Layman and Joe and Brandy Wingfield. Holly and Brandy are sisters. While Matt Layman provides lead vocals, plays piano and writes songs, Joe Wingfield provides bass, Holly Layman plays piano and guitar, and Brandy Wingfield brings vocals.
Their song “Some of Us Still Stand” was released October 19 and had 10,000 hits within 48 hours. The video has now been viewed more than 150,000 times on YouTube.
“It’s very obvious we have tapped into something beyond us,” Matt Layman, a 2004 Waynesboro High School graduate, said. Holly Layman graduated from Wilson Memorial High in 2001. The Laymans lead worship at Church on the Hill in Fishersville.
Matt Layman wrote the song in 90 minutes one year ago after a series of events which inspired him. He felt a desire to write a patriotic song when in summer 2021, the band played at Staunton’s “Praise in the Park.” When the band began to sing “God Bless the U.S.A.,” Layman’s 90-year-old grandmother, with a cane, got to her feet to stand and sang along. Hundreds of others also stood to sing.
“It was amazing. Like everyone stood and it was just this moment of unity and patriotism,” Matt Layman said. “And it was just incredible. And I never forgot seeing my grandmother.”
In fall 2021, the Layman’s son, Abel, now 6, was struggling to learn how to recite “The Pledge of Allegiance” with his classmates every day in school. Layman was hunting on the land which the couple built a house they now live in when he witnessed the sun come up over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“And the sun began to come up over the Blue Ridge Mountains, and as the light came across those peaks, just the words for that song began to pour into me,” he said of the song’s lyrics.
Holly Layman said that when she saw her husband afterward, he told her he just wrote a song while in his tree stand. He sat at the piano and played and sang the song for her.
“I was just in awe. I was like: ‘That’s incredible. We’ve got to get that out,'” Holly Layman said.
Matt Layman said what has been most encouraging about reaction to the song is comments from viewers from all over the country.
“Your song is giving people hope,” he said a woman commented.
Layman said the lyrics he wrote were “what everyone is feeling.” The song is timely just before Election 2024. Americans are nervous and restless. Layman said he would like to see the song encourage Americans to rally and to educate them about what could be lost. The fear of losing what Americans have is in the song’s lyrics.
“But I can see it fading. In one generation, freedom is lost. But if we try, we can save it. We’re not too far gone.”
Regardless of results on Election Day, Layman said he would like to see American flags displayed everywhere again like after 9/11. The song’s lyrics include a phrase about kneeling at the cross and standing for the American flag.
“I believe that Jesus Christ is transformative. He is the best thing for your life and he can change your life in ways that are amazing,” he said.
Layman said he has traveled all over the country for work and learned that all Americans are deep down the same and want the same for their families.
“There’s so much more that unifies us than divides us,” Matt Layman said.
The band will soon release a “Beyond the Music” of “Some of Us Still Stand,” which was recorded in the Layman’s basement studio.
“We’re trying to connect people with what inspired the video and the song,” he said. A lot of comments on social media have been to ask what inspired the song.
The video for “Some of Us Still Stand” features Staunton Fire Department member Chris Layman, Matt Layman‘s brother, and Neil Kester of the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries.
“There was just so much collaboration,” Matt Layman said of the video, most of which was shot on the Layman’s property in Waynesboro. The Layman’s daughters, Layla, 15, and Brooke, 13, are also in the video, as well as Abel reciting “The Pledge.” A majority of the video was shot by Brooke.
Matt Layman grew up in a musical family: his father played drums in local bands and his grandfather played jazz music.
“I grew up in recording studios,” he said.
The Laymans work from home. Holly is a hairstylist and Matt’s full-time job is as a systems architect with a global company.
“We’re open for whatever God has for us,” Matt Layman said of the band’s future. He said if their music receives more attention and national attention, then they will continue to pursue their music.
The band’s first album, “Don’t Forget,” was produced and recorded in the Layman’s home seven years ago.
The band has recorded five of 10 songs for a second album to be released in early 2025. One of the songs already recorded, “Weary Traveler,” a video of was recorded in the Virginia Metalcrafters building in Waynesboro. “Beautiful Shore” is about losing loved ones and seeing them again in Heaven.
“We are a Christian band. Everything we do has a message of God in it,” Matt Layman said.
“Weary Traveler” is in homage to America‘s veterans. Layman said that “Some of Us Still Stand” is the first patriotic song he has written, but he does not expect it to be the last. He said he feels that God gave him the song.
“There’s nothing better than people saying: ‘You just said what I feel,'” Matt Layman said. “To me, that’s the greatest thing I could hear.”
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
