As Strangers

I was sitting in a coffee shop wondering if the guy across from me was my youngest brother. I hadn’t seen him in almost 20 years. I thought how ridiculous would it be to get up and say “excuse me, are we brothers?” I started writing this song while we were sitting there.

Lyrics

Saw your face across the bar
Or someone who looks the same
As your picture in my mind
After all these years of change.
I stood and said, excuse me son
But what name do you go by?
That’s a lie I didn’t move at all
Sat and wondered if you’d be this tall
Last I knew you’d only learned to crawl
Damn, we never said good-bye

Guess you heard about the feud
Stuff of legend, stuff of shame.
Shining armor, holy war
We all lost at his own game.
The smoke of battle drifts away
And the wounded walk again.
No it didn’t make a bit of sense
But insanity is no defense
We departed at our own expense.
Oh lord, how long has it been?

We share this town as strangers while
Our mother’s hair turns gray
May you and all the rest of us
Find a place to rest and souls to love
What if we forgive and rise above?
Man it’s good to see your face.

Did you grow up to be strong
Are you happy,  are you free?
In the house where you were born
Are there memories left of me?
Do you hang your pictures up
On the nails I left behind?
Are the walls the shade I painted then
Could you tell the backyard where I’ve been
Did the flowers ever bloom again
God, I hope you’re doin’ fine.

We share this town as strangers while
Our mother’s hair turns gray
May you and all the rest of us
Find a place to rest and souls to love
What if we forgive and rise  above?
Man I’d love to see your face.
But it’s just someone who looks the same.

Art

Credits & Thank-You’s

Words and music by me. Piano performance on the studio demo by Jenn. Photo by Tim Gouw. Thanks to Jenn for improving the chords in a key places.