Samantha Cugini won American Songwriter’s Red, Write & Blue Lyric Contest promotion with her track “Nobody Said Goodbye,” a song inspired by a photograph of her late father during his Air Force service before she was born. According to American Songwriter, the track explores the personal weight of military service, family sacrifice, and the emotional reality of loved ones waiting at home.
Inspiration Behind “Nobody Said Goodbye”
Cugini discovered a photograph of her father in his Air Force years, captured prior to her birth. Looking at the image years after losing him to cancer prompted her to imagine the context of that moment. “The song is my attempt to step into a moment I never witnessed, while reflecting on family, sacrifice, and the uniquely American experience of loving someone whose duty sometimes calls them away,” Cugini told American Songwriter.
The lyrics detail a summer backyard cookout where a young service member is home on leave, surrounded by family and neighbors avoiding any mention of his impending departure. The winning lyrics feature verses depicting neighbors talking baseball and grandparents watching from a porch swing while a duffel bag waits by the kitchen door.
Songwriting Background and 2026 Releases
Cugini has written music since childhood, noting that the practice became deeper after the loss of both of her parents. She released her independent album, The Leaving Kind, on July 17 under the stage name Sammi Lee. According to artist statements provided to American Songwriter, the album centers on themes of grief, healing, and growth.
Beyond her own material, Cugini cites a diverse group of musical influences, including Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, P!nk, Brandi Carlile, Taylor Swift, Raye, and Paul Simon. She entered the Red, Write & Blue promotion because her song matched the contest’s focus on service, family, and patriotism.
Session Five 2026 Lyric Contest Results
Alongside Cugini’s first-place win for “Nobody Said Goodbye,” the Session Five 2026 Lyric Contest featured multiple entries. TJ Downey secured second place in the competition with the song “Paris In Her Mind,” which follows a woman working local jobs while holding onto distant dreams of travel.
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