

Prompt / Lyrics
Down on the bayou where the cypress knees bleed We grew up barefoot, chasin’ garfish and dreams Shaun and me, two Louisiana boys Screamin’ “Geaux Tigers” with a dip in our lip, makin’ too much noise Friday night lights on the field in Plaquemine Bonfires on the levee, cold Dixie in our hands We swore we’d die together if it came to that Never thought the reaper’d come in a Silverado drunk off his ass Chorus (raw, torn open) God, why’d You take him?! WHY SHAUN AND NOT ME?! He’s got a baby girl who’ll never know her daddy’s voice, never climb his knee! Avery Renee’s cryin’ in an empty crib, reachin’ for arms that ain’t never comin’ back While I’m still suckin’ air, still walkin’, still breathin’—and that’s crueler than Iraq! I’d claw my way into that coffin right now, trade this beat-up heart for his Put me under that Louisiana dirt on Highway 1, let him tuck his kids in, let him live! I’m on my knees in this rice field mud screamin’ till my throat bleeds red BRANG MY BROTHER HOME, JESUS—HE AIN’T SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD! The whole damn bayou’s hollow, the live oaks weep, the moon won’t even shine Take me, Lord, TAKE ME—I can’t carry this missin’ him the rest of my goddamn life! Verse 2 We stormed Fallujah together, bullets singin’ like mosquitoes in July Watched good boys bleed out on red sand while we prayed not to die Came home heroes, or so they said Bought a little land outside Breaux Bridge, thought the war was finally dead He coached Little League, wore that same damn grin I stood up at his wedding when he married Kaylynn Now her black dress hangs where his Marine blues used to be And I’m screamin’ at the sky from the tailgate of my truck, beggin’ on my knees (Chorus – even louder, voice breaking) Marine Brotherhood Verse We were 0311s, Devil Dogs, same platoon, same rack He had my six in Ramadi when the whole world turned black I dragged him out a burnin’ Amtrac, he pulled shrapnel outta my thigh We pissed in the same Euphrates water and swore we’d never die Tattooed the Eagle, Globe and Anchor the day we both turned gold Semper Fi on our ribs, blood brothers in the desert cold He laughed when I cried at the homecoming pier Said, “Man up, boot, we made it—now let’s go get a beer” I’d take every round we dodged, every IED that missed If it meant one more crawfish boil with that sonofabitch We were supposed to grow old spittin’ seeds on his porch Tellin’ our kids war stories till our voices got hoarse But the war didn’t take him—some drunk in a Dodge did And now Dress Blues hang in his closet where his little girl once hid Bridge (half-spoken, half-sobbed under dying accordion) So take me instead, Lord; I’ve lived enough for two I’ve held my kids, kissed my wife, done what Marines do He never got to hear Avery laugh or teach her how to cast a line Never got to grow old listenin’ to Wayne Toups at Festival Acadiens time If You need a soul tonight, mine’s already torn Send Shaun Michael back to Henderson, where he was born Final Chorus (whispered at
Tags
male, female, Southern rock—raw, weathered, and full of soul,country, smooth
5:09
No
11/29/2025