HAMPSHIRE band Strapped for Cash has returned to the music scene with the release of a new single in aid of the welovemanchester Emergency Fund.

The emotive song, titled “Even Jesus Wept (Song For Saffie)”, was written by guitarist Rod Bransgrove, Chairman of Hampshire Cricket with the band’s keyboard player, Sean McMenemy, and features the voice of local music artist Lucy Smith, 18.

Originally penned eighteen months ago, the lyrics were inspired by footage of a terrorist attack in Syria and the death of innocent children. After the devastating attack on the Manchester Arena in May, the band decided to go back into the studio to re-record the song. “Even Jesus Wept” is a moving tribute to those who lost their lives in the atrocity and is dedicated to Saffie Roussos, the youngest victim of the attack who was just eight years old.

Rod Bransgrove said: “When I originally wrote the words for this song I was thinking of a mother receiving the news that her child was not coming home because they had been killed by an attack they would not have understood. It is a parent’s plaintiff search for answers to a needless massacre in the name of religion. When we saw the same haunting images on our screens after the Manchester attack and the face of little Saffie, it felt like this song had been written for her. We first recorded the song as a demo with the very talented Lucy Smith back in 2015 after I had heard her perform on the radio. Now 18 years old, and embarking on a music career of her own, I knew she remained the perfect voice for this version as well. We modified the lyrics slightly, returned to the recording studio with the brilliant Chris Thomas and decided to turn this song into a single release to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in Manchester. We are very excited to see the response to the single and hope people will support the welovemanchester appeal and families such as Saffie’s by downloading the record.”

In a break from the traditional rock sound of the band, any Strapped for Cash fan listening to the powerful lyrics will not fail to be moved by the emotion within the verses and the beautiful tone of Lucy Smith’s vocals. The song was recorded and produced at Aubitt Studios in Southampton under the management of Chris Thomas (Dark Side of the Moon).

“Even Jesus Wept (Song For Saffie)” is available to download on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/even-jesus-wept-feat-lucy-smith-single/id1254177551 and all royalties will be going to the welovemanchester Emergency Fund to help those affected by the Manchester bombing.