Music has a way of bringing the past into the present. Memories receive new life through thoughtful lyrics and well-composed chords. Dom Frucella skillfully uses both to give us “Sweet Margret Ann,” a tearfully sensitive ballad in memory of his grandmother. In this episode of Eighty Unplugged, AD “Eighty” Cuffee and Dom talk about the timelessness of music and how the heart and soul of experiences shape past and future songwriting.

Influential Past

Dom grew up with his family in Hollidaysburg, PA, playing sports and listening to rock and rap hits on the radio. He was close to his family, especially his deaf grandmother, Margaret Ann. She taught him to sign before he could speak and filled his childhood with pleasant memories of popcorn, movies, and Sundays at church. He always liked music, and after seeing someone play ukulele at church camp, he bought one for himself in secret.

He then moved on to guitar, writing his first song after a bad breakup. Dom slowly opened up about his music, becoming pleasantly surprised at how welcoming his friends and family were about it. His friend and fellow Eighty Unplugged alum, Walkney, recorded a song with him and encouraged him to develop further. Walkney invited Dom to open for one of his concerts and the experience drove him out of his comfort zone and into a new era of singing and songwriting.

Influential Present

Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Sam Barber, and Treaty Oak Revival are musicians who inspire his country-Americana sound. Dom’s first songs sounded a lot like his musical influences, but as time has gone by, both collaboration and live performances have helped shape him into a more creative songwriter. Dom admires the talents of Coltt Winter Lepley, as his hallmark is bringing the history of Pennsylvania to life through his story-driven songs.

His life has also shaped his art. He moved to both Texas and South Carolina, experiences highlighted in his song, “South Bound.” This time right after graduating college was instrumental in shaping his songwriting identity. He loves to see people dancing to his music or relating to the subject matter, happy or sad. But it means the most to see his mom in the crowd, tears in her eyes when he tells the stories of his family and keeps the memory of his grandmother present.

Looking to the Future

Dom looks to the future hopefully, and that’s reflected in how he plans to write music in the future. He is excited by the kind of exaggerated storytelling that gives a chance meeting at a bar or a breakup a little extra boost of energy, sometimes warranting light-hearted curse words for emphasis. The emotionality comes from his propensity to treat songwriting like a journal. In his daily life, he has a hard time talking to people about difficult emotions. However, writing songs allows him to express himself and all the beg feelings that need to get out. He has a goal of writing 30 to 50 songs in the next year to sharpen his skills. Dom would love to have a wife and kids someday, so he plans to write music about them and for them in the meantime.

“Sweet Margret Ann”

Past, present, and looking to the future merge in Dom’s beautiful tribute to his late grandmother. “Sweet Margret Ann” recounts his deaf grandmother’s difficult childhood attempting to navigate the hearing world, showing gratitude for her resilience and care. He wrote the song while still living in Raleigh. One day when he sat down to write, the phrase “Sweet Margret Ann” seemed to come from nowhere and fit the music perfectly. The first two verses came together that day as well, tears in his eyes and the feeling of his grandmother looking down on him with pride. Dominic expressed his love for deaf culture and how he plans to pass it down to his own children one day. They say the deaf can hear when they get to heaven, and Dom not only believes she helped him write this song, but that she is and will continue to be his biggest fan.

Written by Dom Frucella
Verse 1:
Grew up north of Pittsburgh,
you were nothing like the kids in school
You read their lips, you took them whips
from the nuns who were cruel
But you kept on going,
there was no stopping you
You pictured your life, your family,
and all the things you’ll do.
Chorus
I’ll always sign I love you with my hand
I’ll share all the memories
to my kids about you Gram
I know you’re looking down
and you’re my biggest fan
I’ll always love you
Sweet Margret Ann
Verse 2:
You always were by my side
from the time I was born
You loved them show, and your mentos,
we sat and ate popcorn
Bridge
Looking back I miss the way it used to be
Now all I do , is pray to you, and I hope you see

Chorus
And I’ll always sign I love you with my hand
I’ll share all the memories
to my kids about you Gram
I know you’re looking down
and you’re my biggest fan
Yeah, I’ll always love you
Sweet Margret Ann
Sweet Margret Ann
Sweet Margret Ann