The following poem was written by Matthew's cousin, Megan Shepard. It was read at Matthew's funeral in Casper, Wyoming.
For Matthew
An angel with new wings
In a place a world away
Can once again begin to sing
God took him in his arms today
He blessed his soul with loving care
And took away his pain
His life story all would share
His memory on their hearts a stain
So young a heart destroyed
For a cause unforgotten
Another's mind deployed
The result a tragedy rotten
The tragic hero that's hard to find
A martyr with great courage
God's lamb in rare design
Never to be discouraged
Our love for him forever strong
His image will never fade
We'll meet him again before long
Temporary goodbyes we now must bade
Matty, I love you with all of my heart
I wish you only knew how much
You'll be happier with this brand new start
The world's hearts you have now touched.
“We will miss you, though we knew you too late. Melissa Etheridge in her lyric [Melissa Etheridge - Scarecrow ( in "Breakdown," 1999)] called you little scarecrow, hanging on a fence, those tear tracks on your cheeks. How many more, little one, will suffer at the hands of that hatred, because of their love?”
Scarecrow
Showers of your crimson blood
Seep into a nation calling up a flood
Of narrow minds who legislate
Thinly veiled intolerance
Bigotry and hate
But they tortured and burned you
They beat you and they tied you
They left you cold and breathing
For love they crucified you
I can't forget hard as I try
This silhouette against the sky
Scarecrow crying
Waiting to die wondering why
Scarecrow trying
Angels will hold carry your soul away
This was our brother
This was our son
This Shepard young and mild
This unassuming one
We all gasp this can't happen here
We're all so civilized
Where can these monsters hide
But they're knocking on our front door
They're rocking in our cradles
They're preaching in our churches
And eating at our tables
I search my soul
My heart and in my mind
To try and find forgiveness
This is someone's child
With pain unreconciled
Filled up with Father's hate
Mother's neglect
I can forgive But I will not forget
Scarecrow crying
Waiting to die wondering why
Scarecrow trying
Rising above all in the name of
love
Many other musicians dedicated a song to Matthew's memory. Here are some that we found out.
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Darthe Jennings
Way to Laramie
(from "Lessons Of The Heart," 1999)
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 Greg Klyma
Human, like you
(from his site at MP3.com, 1999)
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Hugh Blumenfeld
Lacrimae Laramie
(from "Mr. Jekyll & Dr. Hyde," 1999)
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 Tim Baldwin
Wyoming skies
(from "Full Circle Round," 1999)
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Mike James
Scarecrow
(from "Right Aligned," 1999)
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Randi Driscoll
What matters
(EP release, 1999)
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 Garrin Benfield
What you're hiding
(in "Living A Dream," 1999)
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Grace
Crucify (song for Matthew Shepard)
(from "Grace", 1999)
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 Mark & Dean
How many candles
(in "Man Of My Dreams," 1999)
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Heather T.Strong
The Shepard
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 Stain'd Glass
Matthew 21:22
(in "Family Values," LML Music, 2000)
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Dave Crossland
Matthew Shepard
(from "Fields Of Promises," 2000)
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