‘Eddie and Johnnie’ by Natural Bridges | Canyon Country LA Fires Benefit Compilation
Natural Bridges’ track ‘Eddie and Johnnie’ is a heartfelt tribute to family, resilience, and the strength of community in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires.
Featured on the ‘Canyon Country – LA Fires Benefit Compilation,’ this song takes you back to Matthew Johnson’s roots in Petaluma, California, and tells a deeply personal story about his second cousins, Eddie and Johnnie, and their connection to a house that once stood strong in their family.
Matthew says the idea for the song came after hearing about the destruction of a Victorian house in Petaluma that his grandfather’s family once lived in. Eddie, who had run an auto body shop there, and Johnnie, his brother, became the inspiration for the song. While the track is fictionalized (Matthew imagines them driving a Studebaker, though Eddie actually had a ’57 Plymouth), it’s really about the bond he has with his family and their history in Petaluma.
The song captures a time when the two cousins were tearing around town, getting into trouble, with their grandfather (who had moved away) not there to bail them out. There’s a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in the track, but also a sense of resilience that’s central to the story. It’s a reminder of how the land and the people who came before us shape who we are.
The track was written specifically for the compilation, with all proceeds going to MusiCares and the CCF Wildfire Recovery Fund. The artwork for the single, painted by Matthew’s wife, Michelle Santamaria, is based on an old newspaper photo of Eddie, adding a personal touch to the whole thing.
At its core, Eddie and Johnnie is a song about community, resilience, and the memories that stay with us. As Los Angeles begins to rebuild, this track stands as a reminder of how we can come together, heal, and grow stronger through it all.
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