Republican honors Kennedy with song

WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah has composed a song about liberal colleague Sen. Ted Kennedy that may be sung at this summer's Democratic Convention.

Friends of Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer, asked Hatch to put his skills to work on drafting a musical tribute to his Massachusetts colleague, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

The result of Hatch's effort is a ballad called "Headed Home" about sailing.

"He's a special person to me. I want to honor him this way," said Hatch who has written hundreds of songs on patriotic themes.

Hatch said after Kennedy's illness was revealed several prominent Democrats approached him at a fund-raiser.

"One said, 'Why don't you write a song for the convention for Teddy?' So I did," Hatch said.

Kennedy is not expected to attend the Denver convention next month.