“Jane”: A Song That Carries the Sound of Sisterhood

When Kohanna McCrary first experienced a Casting for Recovery retreat, what stayed with her wasn’t a single moment. It was a feeling.

“I feel so lucky that I was able to witness a Casting for Recovery retreat,” she says. “What stayed with me the most was just the overall joy. The women, the staff, and the guides all shared this happiness that felt so natural. When I think of CFR, the first thing I see in my mind is everyone smiling. The whole weekend felt like pure togetherness and it was really beautiful.”

That sense of togetherness, of shared experience and quiet understanding, became the foundation for “Jane,” the original song she wrote after witnessing the retreat and later featured in The Jane Project: Carried by the Current.

On the river, the experience unfolded in a way that felt almost cinematic. Sound softened by water, laughter still rising through it.

“Walking down the river, everything was a bit muffled because of the water, but through the sounds of the river, I could still hear the laughter and joy of the women and guides. It felt like the world was in total harmony.”

That harmony found its way into the lyrics.

“That is what sparked the line ‘you and me, in this big blue sea, synchronicity.’ I kept thinking about the women when they would catch a fish and the way their guides would react with the same excitement. Their joy matched each other so perfectly. The happiness was contagious and these memories stayed with me long after.”

For Kohanna, songwriting begins with imagery. A scene forms first, and the music follows.

“When I write music, I write very visually. I always see the story first, and it takes place as a movie scene in my mind.”

As she wrote “Jane,” she found herself back at the retreat, replaying moments she had only partially witnessed, filling in the spaces with what she knew to be true.

“I felt like I was back at the retreat watching it all over again. I kept imagining the women walking together on the riverside, chatting, building friendships, building trust. Even though I only attended the final day on the water, I thought about what the full retreat must look like. The cabins, the mornings together, the bonding, the laughter.”

What emerged was something larger than a single story.

“CFR reminded me of what is important in life. It reminded me of sisterhood and womanhood, which is something we tend to lose a little as we grow older and get busy with careers and responsibilities. ‘Jane’ became a song about sisterhood and how special it truly is. Jane is every woman.”

Still, Jane is not entirely abstract. She is rooted in someone real.

“When I think of her, I picture a specific CFR participant named Kate. She was very sweet. She had two guides and she was losing mobility in her hand because of the cancer. She told her story afterward and shared her worries about whether she would be able to fish.”

What happened next stayed with Kohanna.

“She ended up catching a fish with the very hand she was losing strength in. She had the biggest smile. I built Jane around her, but I hope other women can see themselves, or someone they love, in Jane too.”

The river itself shaped the structure of the song.

“The melody matches the river. It has a steady flow because I wanted the words and story to be the focus, the same way that the women are the focus on the river during the retreat.”

And within that flow, the message becomes clear, reaching out like a steady hand.

“Lines like ‘Do you feel it too? Do you feel brand new? Jane it’s you’ are meant to feel like a hand reaching out. A reminder that you are here, and you are strong, and you are supported.”

At its core, the song is meant to feel familiar. Grounding. Reassuring.

“Comfort and peace. I wanted the song to feel like an old friend talking to you. When I wrote it, it felt like I was writing everything I myself needed to hear. I hope listeners feel reassurance and calm, like the song is saying ‘It is okay, I am here with you, you are strong and we are strong together.’”

While “Jane” was born from the experience of women with breast cancer, its meaning extends beyond it.

“The meaning of ‘Jane’ is universal. Being a woman can be heavy. We grow up with so many expectations… sometimes it can feel like you’re walking the role of a woman alone.”

The song becomes a reminder of connection.

“This song reminded me of the importance of female connection and how strong women are together. ‘Jane’ is for all women. For anyone who needs comfort, support, or a reminder that they are not alone.”

That message has resonated far beyond the river.

“The audience reaction has been incredibly beautiful,” she says of performing the song live. “After each show someone comes up with a story.”

Stories of mothers. Sisters. New life. Loss. Hope.

“When I play ‘Jane,’ the room usually becomes very quiet and emotional. You can feel the message land with people. It is always a mix of tears and smiles.”

For Kohanna, that response confirms what she has always believed about music.

“Healing plays a huge role in my songwriting. Music is powerful. There is so much science behind how healing it is, and I feel that when I write. I feel like I am healing myself while hoping to help heal others.”

That is what made Casting for Recovery a story she felt responsible to carry forward.

“As an artist and songwriter, it feels like my responsibility to tell stories. ‘Jane’ felt like my way of contributing. Just like CFR, the song is about something bigger than cancer. It is about sisterhood, connection, and the strength of women together.”

Today, as part of The Jane Project and Casting for Recovery’s 30th anniversary, the song continues to travel. Through film. Through live performances. Through the quiet moments when someone hears it and recognizes themselves in it.

And if Jane could speak directly to the women who will hear her story, Kohanna believes her message would be simple.

“She would say that we are all in this together. You are not alone. You are loved, you are strong, and being part of womanhood is something truly special.”

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