Jann Arden quoted in new Comey book

TORONTO (CP) — Canadian musician Jann Arden has always had a realistic outlook on death.

Growing up in Springbank, Alta., she saw farm animals die and had frank discussions about such matters with her parents, who didn't view death as a taboo topic.

“When my parents started getting sick and we were just little kids, my mom used to say, ‘Well, you're going to die someday, so you better get living,’” the eight-time Juno Awardwinning artist recalled.

Arden has expressed such a viewpoint in interviews in the past but didn't realize what kind of an impact it might have until this week, when she was surprised to see her words of wisdom in the highly anticipated new book by former FBI Director James Comey.

The quote attributed to Arden — ”To not think of dying, is to not think of living” — kicks off the book’s first chapter, “The Life.”

“It’s really fascinating. I’m very touched by it and I think it’s really cool,” Arden told CP Tuesday, the day the book hit shelves.

“I know how important words are to me and I’m glad that it resonated with him. I think he’s in a precarious position and has taken a lot of blows the last year or so, and I hope he’s part of the equation that brings down this guy — that brings some light to this presidency.”

Arden has seen the quote attributed to her a couple of times in other circumstances.