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Jeff Bates<\/a> has released a new song titled “Good Man Going Home (Charlie’s Song)” in tribute to the late Charlie Kirk<\/a>, and he hopes it will provide some healing in a difficult time.<\/p>\n The country singer says he did not know the Turning Point USA<\/a> founder personally, though he had followed him for years.<\/p>\n “He was a fascinating young man,” the “Long Slow Kisses” singer tells Taste of Country.<\/p>\n “I thought he was very intelligent, and I always like when intelligent people get up and talk about God,” he adds. “He talked about Him like he knew Him, and I liked that.”<\/p>\n Kirk was shot and killed<\/a> on Sept. 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.<\/p>\n Bates says he “cried like a baby” when he heard the news that Kirk had died.<\/p>\n Kirk’s death “shook me, it shocked me, it broke my heart,” he states. “It’s still America, man … everything’s about left and right, and it shouldn’t be. It should be about right and wrong.”<\/p>\n Bates immediately felt compelled to write a song for Kirk, “because he’s a believer, I’m a believer,” he explains.<\/p>\n “We know where Charlie went,” he adds. “I know my personal beliefs, and I know what my personal experiences are.”<\/p>\n Bates says he was particularly upset when he saw people turning to social media to bash Kirk after his murder.<\/p>\n When he brought his song idea up to Jason Brownie, Nick Autry and Randall Fowler during a scheduled writing session later that day, they were all in.<\/p>\n Autry had been kicking around the title “Good Man Going Home” for years, and when he suggested it, Bates said, “Well, that’s about Charlie. It has<\/em> to be.”<\/p>\n The song came together quickly, and it’s a powerful testament to Kirk.<\/p>\n “There’s gonna be arms wide open \/ You can have faith in knowing \/ When he gets there, there’s gonna be hallelujahs and amens \/ Gonna be angels singing \/ Nobody blaming \/ Or shaming him for words he said or all of his past sins \/ It hurts to see him go, but I know \/ He’s a good man going home,”<\/em> Bates sings in the chorus.<\/p>\n Bates went into the studio to record the song immediately, and he’s spent the days since fast-tracking the release.<\/p>\n He’s hoping it “gives people a sense of hope, maybe a little healing,” Bates says.<\/p>\n He also wants to get the song to Kirk’s family as a testament to the conservative icon’s impact and legacy.<\/p>\n “People like Charlie come along once in a lifetime,” Bates reflects. “With that kind of charisma, who’s that intelligent. He cared about other people, and obviously cared about his country. I hope people can see that in his life, and I hope this song reminds them of that.”<\/p>\n Jeff Bates’ “Good Man Going Home (Charlie’s Song)” is currently available for streaming and download<\/a>.<\/p>\n These 10 country songs were inspired by real-world events that had serious consequences. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n10 Country Songs Born From World Tragedy<\/h2>\n