Henry Lees Releases New Song That Last Goodbye
The piano-based track serves as a personal exploration of grief following multiple family losses.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Holiday Music
Musician Henry Lees and co-writer Joanna Butler have released their latest song, That Last Goodbye. The track, produced by Allister Bradley, was written as a way to navigate the profound loss of the songwriter’s siblings and parents.
Why it matters
The release provides a creative outlet for Lees to process significant personal trauma. It has already gained critical attention, recently earning recognition as a semi-finalist in the 2025 International Songwriting Competition.
Henry Lees has received 12 international honours since 2021, and his two previous singles reached 10,000 streams. The song That Last Goodbye is a semi-finalist in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category of the 2025 International Songwriting Competition.
The players
Henry Lees
He is a Canadian songwriter based in Nova Scotia who has been honoured by numerous international music competitions.
Joanna Butler
She is a songwriter who co-wrote the track alongside Henry Lees during a workshop.
Allister Bradley
He is a producer based in Ontario who oversaw the production of the piano-based track.
The details
Written during a SongStudio songwriting workshop, the track features a piano-based arrangement. Lees crafted the piece to help heal from the deaths of his parents in 2003 and 2011, and the loss of four sisters between 2009 and 2023.
Timeline
2003: A parent of Henry Lees passed away.
2009: Henry Lees' sister Lila passed away.
2011: A parent of Henry Lees passed away.
Late 2022 to mid-2023: Three of Henry Lees' sisters passed away.
October 20, 2026: The song That Last Goodbye was released.
Industry Dynamics
Recognition by the International Songwriting Competition marks a significant career milestone for independent artists. This validation helps songs gain traction in a crowded music market by positioning them against global peers in specific genre categories.
Listeners can access the new track directly through digital streaming platforms. The song is currently available for purchase or streaming via major online music services.
The takeaway
Music often serves as a powerful medium for navigating personal grief and collective healing. This release demonstrates how creative collaboration can transform individual hardship into a shared artistic experience.
Further reading
Explore more tracks from local artists in our Holiday Music section.
More information
Listen to the track or view the release details on the That Last Goodbye release link.
