A song about my brother's suicide 40 years ago.
Acoustic, singer/songwriter, rock and roll, pop.
Story behind the song
When I was young, my brother suicided. Wendy's sister also died tragically when Wendy was young. We talked about how it feels to be the surviving sibling and came up with this song.
Lyrics
When You're Cain
Cain drives the same highway to work every day
He listens to the radio, sips his coffee along the way
There's talk of war and violence, in a place he'll never go
He does not like to hear it, because you always know
about this pain...
When you're Cain
Later today, he'll be picking-up his dad
Drive him to the store for medications and a heating pad
And in the afternoon, lay some flowers on a grave
They will watch as the flowers wilt there in the rain
It always rains...
When you're Cain
(Chorus)
There are moments in your life you can't get back
You can only add, you can't subtract
But the world keeps on moving
and though you go on living,
You can't change...
When you're Cain
Cain goes to church, nearly every Sunday mass
He bows his head to pray underneath the stained glass
He prays for forgiveness, absolution of his soul
Doesn't know if God will grant it
If he cannot let go
Of his shame...
For being Cain
At night he wakes from dreams, scenes of his youth
Allows himself to feel it, that awful moment of truth
When a father's favorite son, was lying on the floor
Black powder on his hands, and blood on the door
It still remains...
When you're Cain
(Repeat Chorus)
