BEEN OUT HERE 27 YEARS WITH NO SIGN OF RELIEF, SO WIPE THAT SALTY TEAR FROM YOUR CHEEK. I PACKED MY BAGS AND HEADED OUT WEST, A LONG TIME AGO, AT LEAST MENTALLY.
AND, I PUT THE WORDS OF MY FATHER BACK ON A SHELF, WITH MY FAVORITE WORKS OF FICTION. GOOD FAITH AND AN HONEST BELIEF IN THE MAKE-BELIEVE NEVER HELPED ANYONE OUT.
OUTSIDE THE TREES WERE CLAWING THE CLOUDS AS THE RAIN CAME DOWN. I THINK I REMEMBER IT NOW. I BIT EACH WORD AS IT LEFT MY FAILING MOUTH, “YOU WERE HAPPIER WHEN YOU WEREN’T HAPPY.” AND THE WORLD WAS STILL YOURS TO FIGURE OUT, FROM BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL, NOT GLUED TO A COUCH, LATE AT NIGHT, AS ALL YOUR FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS WOULD TURN TO ADS FOR SELF HELP.
BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS STILL SINGING YOUR SONGS, AS YOUR WORLD FELL TO PIECES, QUIETLY HUMMING ALONG. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I STILL WANTED IT ALL, EVEN YOUR PAIN. EVEN YOUR PAIN.
BUT WHEN A SHIP’S GOING DOWN, YOU’VE GOT TO GRAB WHAT YOU CAN. WHEN YOUR HOME IS ON FIRE, YOU’VE ONLY GOT TWO HANDS. IT’S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. I’M SURE YOU’LL SOON UNDERSTAND THE DARKNESS.
BUT WITH A REASON FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IS EASY TO TAKE AND WITH A REASON FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING IS EASY TO BREAK. THERE’S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING, OH SOME PEOPLE SAY, THERE’S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING, IT’LL ALL BE OKAY, I DON’T THINK THERE IS A REASON FOR ANYHING.