“I Wrote This Song With Tears Still Falling”: Jelly Roll Donates to Flooded Texas Summer Camp, Releases Heartbreaking Tribute That’s Bringing America to Its Knees

“I didn’t just read the story. I felt it — like a punch to the chest,” country artist Jelly Roll said, recalling the moment he learned of the devastating floods that swept through Central Texas.

Among the hardest hit was Camp Mystic, a beloved summer retreat that, within hours, went from a haven of laughter and childhood memories to a scene of heartbreaking loss.

Dozens perished in the disaster, including multiple children and counselors. Families were left grieving with little more than the clothes on their backs — and a silence where laughter used to live.

For Jelly Roll, a father himself, it hit too close to home.

“I kept thinking about those parents,” he shared. “Dropping their kids off at a place filled with joy, never imagining they’d never see them again. As a dad, that crushed me.”

In the days that followed, while headlines focused on search efforts and rising death tolls, Jelly Roll chose to act quietly. Behind the scenes, he donated over $250,000 to support families of the victims and to aid in rebuilding Camp Mystic’s infrastructure, counseling services, and emergency response programs.

But it wasn’t just financial aid he offered.

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In the stillness of his studio, fueled by raw emotion, Jelly Roll poured his grief into music. The result: a brand-new tribute song titled “Angels Don’t Pack Their Bags.”

The track, released just one week after the floods, has stunned listeners across the country. With stripped-down instrumentation — just a piano and his gravel-lined voice — the song begins with a haunting line:

“They were just kids chasing fireflies / Now they light the sky for us.”

As the song unfolds, Jelly Roll delivers what might be his most vulnerable performance to date. Gone are the heavy beats and swagger — in their place is a father’s ache, a citizen’s sorrow, and an artist’s desperate need to make sense of senseless loss.

“They didn’t get to grow old / Didn’t get to say goodbye / But their laughter still echoes / Every time we cry…”

The track has already been streamed over 10 million times in 48 hours, with fans flooding the comment sections:

“I haven’t cried like this since 9/11.”

“He didn’t just write a song. He gave those kids a voice.”

“Every parent needs to hear this.”

Jelly Roll performed the song live for the first time during a surprise appearance at a benefit concert in Nashville, where he sang before a black-and-white screen scrolling the names of the children lost. The crowd stood in silence, many with hands over their hearts, others holding back sobs.

At the end of the song, he said only:

“This one’s for the angels we lost — and the families still trying to breathe.”

He walked off stage without waiting for applause.

Beyond the music, Jelly has partnered with several organizations to create a relief fund and support long-term grief counseling for survivors and families of victims. He’s also pushing for better flood warning systems in rural areas, using his platform to advocate for change in memory of those lost.

When asked why he felt compelled to act so quickly and publicly, Jelly Roll didn’t hesitate:

“Because we can’t just cry and scroll. We have to do something. These weren’t numbers — they were kids. Futures. Light. I couldn’t ignore that.”

In a year already filled with division and noise, Jelly Roll reminded America what it means to show up — not for the headlines, not for the charts, but for humanity.

He gave us a song we didn’t know we needed.

He gave broken families something no donation can buy:

Acknowledgment. Memory. And a promise that their children will not be forgotten.

And he did it, as he said, “With tears still falling.”

Texas floods enter 5th day, more than 104 people dead1

As of July 8, the flood in Texas, USA, has lasted for 5 days, killing at least 104 people. This number may continue to increase as authorities are still trying to find more missing people.

Image of the rising water level of the Guadalupe River in Kerr County during the Texas floods – Photo: CNN

According to CNN, at least 104 people were killed, with Kerr County – the hardest hit area – recording 84 victims, including 28 children.

Other localities also reported damage: 7 deaths in Travis, 6 in Kendall, 4 in Burnet, 2 in Williamson and 1 in Tom Green.

Dozens of children at summer camp swept away by floodwaters

Some of the worst damage occurred at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp along the banks of the Guadalupe River.

The site has confirmed the death toll at 27 children and a guide named Chloe Childress (19 years old) – a girl who had just graduated from high school and was spending the summer mentoring children.

Chloe Childress (19 years old) just graduated from Kinkaid High School in Houston and spent the summer working as a guide for children at Camp Mystic – Photo: CNN

According to the Guardian , the water level of the Guadalupe River rose 8m in just 45 minutes in the early morning of July 5 (local time) after heavy rain north of San Antonio, sweeping away the cabins where the campers were sleeping inside.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said there are still about 24 people missing. He said the rescue operation is ongoing urgently, with the participation of more than 20 state agencies and hundreds of volunteers.

“We will never assume they are dead,” one volunteer stressed.

US President Donald Trump has also signed a federal disaster declaration to provide financial and human resources support to affected localities.

According to CNN, the weather forecast for the next few days shows positive signs.

Scattered rain and light thunderstorms today and tomorrow are not expected to pose a risk of new flooding, while sunny weather will return from July 10, contributing to favorable conditions for search, rescue and disaster relief work.

While much of the Guadalupe River has returned to normal levels, some rivers may continue to rise even after the rains stop.

Raises questions about warning system

However, local residents expressed frustration and criticized the disaster warning system. Although the US National Weather Service confirmed that it sent out warnings on the night of the flash floods, experts said that it may have been due to weak signal and personal settings, so not everyone received it.

Additionally, a Kerr County resident said he received a flood warning at 1:40 a.m., when most residents were asleep, and the water level rose so quickly overnight that it delayed response.

Local authorities are still carrying out rescue work and have pledged to improve the warning system following the tragic incident.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state will send Urban Search and Rescue to Texas to assist in rescue efforts following severe flooding.

In addition to California, many other states such as Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado and Florida have also announced sending specialized teams to participate in search and rescue operations.

This flood is considered one of the most serious natural disasters in Texas in many years, raising big questions about the ability to respond and adapt to extreme weather caused by climate change.

This article is a work of imagination and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the individuals mentioned.