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Fred's Brother

from Tiger Tattoo by Andrew Calhoun

/

lyrics

Fred's family lived in a condo,
Across the tracks from high school
Free period, we'd be up there drinkin' tea—
Happy memory

Fred's mother lived in a bathrobe,
And frowned more than she spoke
When she'd emerge on rare occasions
For coffee and a smoke

Fred's brother lived in his bedroom,
Without much to feed his soul
But a couple thousand 45's,
And a love for rock and roll

Fred said he'd been suicidal,
And he had a rare affliction
With no moisture to his body,
He used lotion by the carton

Fred's brother used so much lotion,
Of this one special brand
That each year they sent a company pen,
To thank the nation's dryest man

Fred's Dad bought a little farm,
A bet for better days
Where we cleared out box elder trees
For a week of summer days

And when we finished high school,
All their kids were grown
Fred's Dad moved his troubled wife
Up to that quiet farm

Fred's Mom was long recovered,
And his brother, twenty-seven
Set to marry his first girlfriend,
A nineteen year old woman

They offered thirty dollars,
I thought it quite a thing
To mark the priceless honor
Of singing at their wedding

And so they came to walk between
New and old family
And stood in humble joy
Before the minister and me

But I recoil to recall
The twisted things he said
His words flowed on like oily snakes
That rent the air and fled

And he could quote the words of Paul,
And Jesus' death and rise
But he could not see the holy thing
That stood before his eyes

He told them where the spirit lived,
He warned them how it moved
As if true love, the miracle,
Could somehow be improved

I saw the bride's glad shining eyes
Glaze over and go dull
The groom stood grey and vacant now
Where late his heart was full

But something more than anger
Caused my voice to ring
And gave me strength to sing their song,
Better than I can sing

And when my part was over,
All praises to the muse
It wasn't just the old folks
That were crying in the pews

Fred's brother lives in Wisconsin,
Four children to his wife
He still has to put on lotion
Every morning of his life

credits

from Tiger Tattoo, released February 12, 2003
© Andrew Calhoun, 2002

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Andrew Calhoun Chicago, Illinois

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