A 33 year-old Aflac insurance salesman, he grew up in Sikeston, Missouri, where October 2008 was declared "Neal E. Boyd Month."
He discovered operatic music in junior high school when his older brother Michael was forced to do a school project involving classical music and brought home a CD of the Three Tenors. His brother had little appreciation for the music, but Neal was so enamored by the passion and skill of the famous trio that he started practicing how to sing in Luciano Pavarotti's and Placido Domingo's operatic styles. A creative seed was planted, and Neal went on to study speech communications, political science, and music at Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating from both universities in May 2001. He was the winner of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000 while in the voice studio of Professor Ann Harrell of UM-Columbia. This national win led to his solo debut at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall in March 2001. After teaching music for a year in his hometown of Sikeston, MO, he later attended the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA to study opera—which led to a lead role, the slave "York" in Michael Ching's World Premier Opera "Corps of Discovery, A Musical Journey," commissioned by UM-Columbia. Neal has hopes of finally realizing his dream of becoming an international opera star and inspiring the younger generations the way he was inspired.
Boyd was his high school's student body president in 1993–94 and the president of the Student Senate at Southeast Missouri State University, where he was also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He has a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Southeast Missouri State University, a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. In 2001, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall. He had planned to attend Yale University, but his plans changed when he decided to study with Professor Mark St. Laurent of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
In 2000, he sang at the memorial service for former Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. In 2005, he sang the National Anthem at the inauguration of Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. While in college, Boyd interned at the capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. Various Missouri state and local officials nicknamed Boyd "The Voice of Missouri" due to his appearances at many prominent statewide events.
Neal is signed to Decca Records (a Universal Music Company). His debut CD is scheduled for release on June 23, 2009.
Anthem
Neal E. Boyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though their sad power may prevail
Can possess, conquer, my country's heart
They rise to fail
She is eternal
Long before nations' lines were drawn
When no flags flew, when no armies stood
And you ask me why I love her
Through wars, death and despair?
She is the constant, we who don't care
And you wonder will I leave her but how?
I cross over borders but I'm still there now
How can I leave her? Where would I start?
Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart
My land's only borders lie around my heart
The opening lines in Neal E. Boyd's song, Anthem, describe the strength and resilience of his country's heart. He asserts that no man or madness can conquer the spirit and essence of his nation. The following lines proclaim that his land is eternal and was born long before modern nations were established. Despite wars, death, and other tragedies, his homeland remains unbreakable and constant. Boyd then poses a rhetorical question, "And you ask me why I love her through wars, death and despair?" The answer lies in the fact that his country is a constant source of comfort and familiarity, even when things get tough. Boyd's love for his homeland transcends physical borders or lines on a map, as he states, "I cross over borders but I'm still there now." To him, his country is not just a geographical location but resides within his heart.
Boyd then concludes the song by addressing those who question his loyalty or wonder if he will ever leave his homeland. He unequivocally declares that he cannot leave her and ponders where he would even begin to try. He encourages nations to focus on what unites them rather than what divides them. Ultimately, he asserts that his country's only borders are those that exist within his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
No man, no madness
No individual or chaotic behavior
Though their sad power may prevail
Although their sorrowful tactics may succeed
Can possess, conquer, my country's heart
Can own or overcome the heart of my nation
They rise to fail
Their efforts lead to their own downfall
She is eternal
My country is everlasting
Long before nations' lines were drawn
Before artificial borders came into existence
When no flags flew, when no armies stood
When there was no war or declaration of territory
My land was born
My country came into being
And you ask me why I love her
And you question my reasons for adoring my country
Through wars, death and despair?
Even in times of conflict, mortality, and hopelessness?
She is the constant, we who don't care
My country remains constant, even when it is ignored
And you wonder will I leave her but how?
And you ponder if I will abandon my country, but how could I?
I cross over borders but I'm still there now
I may travel across boundaries, but my heart remains with my country
How can I leave her? Where would I start?
How is it possible to forsake my country? At what exact point would I begin?
Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart
Allow insignificant nations to destroy themselves
My land's only borders lie around my heart
The only borders that define my country are the ones in my heart
Contributed by Kennedy B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.