“Even the Flowers Die” by John Calvin and The Barnstormers: A Song About Coping With Grief And Loss

Written by: Annie Schlottman

What word would someone use to describe Jimmy Wooten?  The best one I can think of is “friend”.  Jimmy was loved and known by many people.  Not only was he the drummer of the band GEARS, but he was involved in many other aspects of the music industry and helped other artists achieve their dreams. 

Jimmy was one of those people who made a lasting impression on everyone who was lucky enough to know him.  He touched many lives.  Even people like myself who never had the chance to meet him in person considered him a friend and were inspired by his passion and energy. Since he left us March 4th, 2025, many people who loved him have felt an emptiness that has been difficult to fill.

We all deal with our grief in different ways.  Music is a big part of that for many people. That’s where “Even the Flowers Die” came from. The song, by Kentucky’s John Calvin and The Barnstormers, was released via Rock Sun Records March 6th, 2026, just two days after the somber one-year anniversary of Jimmy’s passing.

Why release the song now?  It just felt like the right time.  It had been a long time coming.  When John Calvin, Ben Miller, and Jamie Anderson started writing the song, they initially set out to create something light that lifted your mood.  Nothing complicated – just good vibes.

But sometimes, you have to go with what you’re feeling, even if it’s difficult.  John was still dealing with the loss of Jimmy, his manager and close friend.  Everyone in the studio felt it.  Instead of fighting the grief, John let it guide him.

He didn’t want to write about loss from the perspective of the person who’s gone, though.  He wanted to focus on the feelings of the people left behind.  The song is written from the point of view of anyone who has lost someone suddenly — the shock, the silence, the way the world keeps moving while yours feels completely frozen.

As the songwriters worked on “Even the Flowers Die”, it started growing into something bigger than they even expected.  It was more than just John’s story.  It became something relatable to so many people, because almost everyone has experienced the kind of loss that leaves you questioning everything.

The song really came alive when Mike Mankel stepped in, adding his harmonies and backing vocals.  Everything just clicked.  So, John sent it off to the record label.

Tom Hooks, founder of Rock Sun Records, was experiencing the same feelings of loss that John was.  When Tom heard the track, he decided to master it himself.  He wanted to make sure the final version of the song would relay the exact message they were trying to share.

When Tom was done, he shared the song with GEARS vocalist Tripp Sixx.  They both had the same reaction.

“I’m not crying . . . YOU’RE crying.”

They all knew how much the song mattered and that they needed to let it out into the world.  But it wasn’t that simple.  The grief was still too raw. They didn’t want to rush it. So, they waited.

Months went by. Then, as the one-year mark of Jimmy’s passing got closer, John and the label came to the realization – it was time. They were ready to put the song out there.  Or at least as ready as they would ever be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHsod7BBJy8

Despite the melancholy ambience of “Even the Flowers Die”, there is also a hopefulness that we can find our way out of the darkness.  It is possible to grieve and miss someone when they are gone, but continue on with our own lives and try to find the light that is still around us.

“Even the Flowers Die” is a song for anyone who has ever had to figure out how to keep living after a loss. The hope is that the song will help people find a way through their grief and continue to heal.