Dad Told Me

There's sadness in the family, Dad told me
Let's no speak of it, it only brings us down
There's sadness in the DNA, I've known it
I've felt it in the pavements of this town
I've lived my life with a backpack that was never mine to carry
Heard it's constant whine,
Saw its body that was never mine to bury
There's trouble in the genes, Dad told me
Don't ask again, best we don't bring it up
But Dad, it seems you can't clear away the smoke of fires you can't find
I've lived my life with a longing that I can't identify
I've been kept from, held from knowing
Daddy, that's why it keeps on growing
But I found the dead animal the smell stems from
I found the story from which the shadow was cast
I searched and searched and now that I found it
I wanna give it back
I searched and searched and now that I found it
I wanna give it back
There's trouble in the family, I tell you
I know and now that I do
Kid, I'm passing it onto you
But let's no speak of it, son
It only brings us down
But let's no speak of it, son
It only brings us down