Murrieta Teen Pays Tribute to Menifee Boy With 'Terry's Song'

Jordan Omoto was sitting on a street corner in Temecula, propping up a promotional sign and passing the time by strumming on a guitar, as a friend continued to text him.

The messages sent Wednesday concerned the discovery of a body at the Menifee home of Terry Smith, the 11-year-old who had been missing since Saturday night. Omoto and his friends had been following the story online and had seen the fliers being circulated around town during the search.

As he read the updates and continued to play his guitar on that busy street corner, Omoto began to feel the emotions felt by so many during these trying last few days. He went home, sat in his bedroom and put his feelings to song.

The result is "Terry's Song," a tribute to the young boy who was remembered in a prayer vigil Wednesday and to whom residents will pay tribute again Friday night in a 7:30 prayer vigil at Wheatfield Park. In fact, the YouTube video Omoto recorded of his song has touched so many online viewers in just a few hours, he has been asked to perform it during Friday's memorial.

"I did this for the boy," said Omoto, 18, who graduated from Murrieta Mesa High School in June and will attend Vanguard University in Costa Mesa this fall. "The whole thing puts a sick feeling in my heart and my stomach. Even though they were not blood related, how could you do that to anyone?

"The song came from those emotions. It's kind of like therapy for me, and I hope it helps other people get through this. People who have heard it say it's a beautiful song that made them cry."

The chorus of Terry's Song includes a phrase that says "It's beneath the dirt and the ditch. No, all of you are hypocrites."

This, he said, is in reference to family members who sat at the volunteer command post, acting as if they knew nothing during the search. A family member has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

"A family is supposed to love their child, but these people are twisted and fake," Omoto said.

Omoto has been playing the guitar for 10 years. He also plays the ukelele, drums and bass. He plans to play baseball at Vanguard and major in either music or business.

On Friday night, he will help a community try to begin healing with music. At the request of others, the lyrics of his song are provided here for those who wish to print them and sing along that night. Here also is his video of Terry's Song. If you have trouble playing it here, click on the YouTube link:

Terry's Song

By Jordan Omoto

Verse1:
It was just a few days ago
The flyers appeared on the lampposts
It said find this little boy
please bring him home

He was a little boy with brown eyes
The last time we saw him was at night
But you sparked a loud noise
Began searchin for the boy

Chorus:
Beneath the trees and the skies
Is where you'll find the truth and lies

Beneath the dirt and the ditch
No all of you are hypocrites

Verse 2:
Terry this is your song
I know that your stayin strong
Looking down from above the sky
A little boy with brown hair and eyes

At risk missing juvenile
But no one could forget your smile
A little boy with brown hair
Brought a city to go out and share

Chorus:
Beneath the trees and the skies
Is where you'll find the truth and lies

Beneath the dirt and the ditch
No all of you are hypocrites

Now you have nothin left to say
You thought that you would get away

Terry this is your song
Terry this is your song
Please stay strong