We was raised on a family farm way out of town
croppin’ wasn’t easy but the lifeblood we found
two boys, me and Jed, our sister Rose died at eleven
buried past the barn when he was twelve and I ten
one day here, then gone, Mama said it was the fever
told me not to say a word and everyone believed her
Jed soon turned dark, just ugly treating others
we was the same but so unlike blood brothers
he earned a reputation, it spread and soiled me
kids would quietly edge away, watching fearfully
but Becky Cook took to likin’ me, be it luck or fate
with her I felt alive, a liftin’ of the heaviest of weight
Chorus
Life moves on but absence ain’t just not being seen
Darkness shadows families, we claw at the holes in between
My parents said don’t you dare bring her around
When I’d ask why, they’d say you just calm down
Jed told me to do it, with a look like he knew more
Then he’d smirk and continue on with his chores
one day Becky called wanting to see me by myself
Daddy and Mama in town, Jed to parts unknown
She showed up and I told her I liked her smile
I went to find my favorite book, floatin’ all the while
when I returned, she was gone less a single shoe remaining
I called her name to no answer, silently spittin’ out a prayer
then I heard a scream outside and tore into the yard
Jed was draggin’ Becky away like a corpse to the boneyard
Chorus
Life moves on but absence ain’t just not being seen
Darkness shadows families, we claw at the holes in between
Jed turned, let her go, then ran into the barn
Becky shaking, her dress dirty and blood adorned
Daddy’s truck appeared, he asked “why’s she here?”
“Jed hurt Becky” and Daddy’s eyes displayed fear
“He’s in with the livestock and I want at him”
Daddy had Mama take us inside, him pale and grim
A single shot rang out, Daddy took two hours to return
sayin’ “there’ll be no more problems, nothing of concern”
an hour later, he spoke again with “it’s time for the truth”
he said, “Emory, this is gonna taste like bitterroot
it was evil but family, what Jed did to our sweet Rose
but taking it outside us left me nothing but what I chose”
Chorus
Life moves on but absence ain’t just not being seen
Darkness shadows families, we claw at the holes in between