Wildflower – The love song from heaven

Wildflower: The Love Song from Heaven – is a fascinating biography by Lesley Ann Richardson revealing the story of her late husband, Dave Richardson, whom she met in Jerusalem in 2008 – she originally from Brisbane, Australia and he from Victoria, Canada. 

Dave was a poet and policeman – a rare combination indeed.  He was a romantic at heart, and had a passion for his work in law enforcement, being firm when required, but showing compassion when it seemed the right thing to do. He loved music, he loved his country, he loved his job. He loved life.

As a young boy, Dave would walk the streets of his neighbourhood humming – combining tunes and lyrics, making up songs in his head. In the early 1970s, Dave penned his most famous poem, Wildflower, for his girlfriend. It took about fifteen minutes to write, and seemed to flow effortlessly from his pen. He showed it to his friend, the brilliant David Foster, who would become Canada’s legendary musical producer. Foster collaborated with other musicians to put a tune to the lyrics. The result was an international smash hit that became Canada’s best-known love ballad, later covered by more than 70 artists.  The poignant words are instantly recognizable:

Let her cry, for she’s a lady

Let her dream, for she’s a child

Let the rain fall down upon her

She’s a free and gentle flower, growing wild.

The song was a potential gateway to a lucrative songwriting career, but Dave loved his day job too much to let it go. He felt committed in his calling to protect ordinary citizens from crime that was so prevalent and wreaked havoc on the streets of his city and country. So he continued to do both. 

After his passing in 2019, Lesley found a collection of Dave’s poems written on yellowed sheets from years and decades past. She’s woven them throughout the book, revealing the beauty and depth of her late husband’s character. 

Dave was a deeply committed law officer who worked all departments, including under cover, which at times required him to share jail cells with criminals. He was able to gain their trust and extract confessions. Dave had a wonderful sense of humor and a propensity towards mischief. Perhaps this is why he easily made friends with young and old on the streets and in the parks of Victoria and for a time, Calgary. He had a fair way of dealing with them and gained their respect in part by sharing life lessons and words of wisdom. When the anti-establishment drug culture followers of the late 60s/early 70s spewed disrespect and ridicule towards the police, Dave’s thoughtful answers de-escalated the tension.

The success of Wildflower had set high expectations. Dave felt pressure each time a famous musician asked him to write a song for them. His continued involvement in high profile criminal cases added to his stress. Two marriages had already failed; Dave became addicted to alcohol and prescription drugs, which he’d taken for pain related to a major injury. Dave’s pathway to healing led him to question whether the ‘higher power’ referred to at AA was the same Jesus to whom he’d committed his life as a child, but had been ignoring for so many years. God set him on a new trajectory towards an adventure of faithful obedience.

Thankful for his own recovery, Dave, in retirement, resolved to help others gain freedom from addiction. The battle for peace and wholeness found him involved in spiritual warfare, regularly amazed at how God miraculously reveals Himself during crucial moments. Ever openhearted and open-minded, Dave’s life emulated the words of a senior officer that had made a deep impression on him. The officer held up a gold watch, claiming that this ‘reward’ for service would mean less than nothing in the years ahead. Then he said, “What will matter is that you can look back on your life as a police officer and say, ‘I did my best and made a difference’ – that will long outlive any watch.” 

Dave Richardson lived a humble, grateful life, seeking redemption for himself and others through the love of Christ. His story clearly reveals that God was always there – even in Dave’s darkest hours, finishing a work He’d begun even before Dave’s birth. Confident that God never gave up on him, Dave committed to help a young woman through her long and complex addictions – even when so often all seemed hopeless. It’s a story of the amazing grace we are given and can choose to offer others in gratitude.

Author Lesley Ann Richardson says, “Dave had an amazing life, both as a songwriter and a lawman. He loved Canada and Canadian values of integrity and courage. My hope is that Wildflower: The Love Song From Heaven makes an impact on readers and our nation and passes on the legacy he left behind. Wildflower: The Love Song From Heaven presents a faith in God that can do the most marvellous and life-transforming things for those who put their trust in Him.”

Wildflower – The Love Song from Heaven by Lesley Ann Richardson (Word Alive Press) is available at various bookstores including Christian bookstores, and Amazon.