[Verse 1] You were smoking on the porch Cheap beer on the rail She stirred the pot in the kitchen Stirring up a private hell I saw bruises like bad flowers She said, "I fell, just clumsy, you know" Your hands smelled like metal and anger Mine stayed buried in my coat [Chorus] I been praying for a way to forgive you Tongue tastes rust when I try your name They keep telling me that mercy heals you But my ribs still rattle with her shame How do I hold my rage and forgive you? Same hands shaking, reaching through I don’t wanna hate my own brother-in-law But God, what you done to her, what you done to you [Verse 2] You grew up with a shouting father Doors slammed like thunder all night You learned love comes with a backhand You called that twisted thing "right" I remember you fixing my engine Laughing with grease on your face How did those fingers that fixed my truck Turn her jaw into a quiet place? [Chorus] I been praying for a way to forgive you Tongue tastes rust when I try your name They keep telling me that mercy heals you But my ribs still rattle with her shame How do I hold my rage and forgive you? Same hands shaking, reaching through I don’t wanna hate my own brother-in-law But God, what you done to her, what you done to you [Bridge] [Voice and guitar drop to a low murmur] I visited you in county once (yeah) Plastic chair, stale coffee, blue glow on your face You said, "Man, I’m sorry" But it sounded like you were asking me To carry your chains I am not your judge I am not your priest I’m just the man who loves your victim And used to love the boy in you at least [Chorus] So I’m praying for a way to forgive you If I let this poison live, it wins I’ll never say it’s fine what you did to her Forgiveness ain’t a pardon for your sins But I’m tired of your shadow in my mirror Tired of bleeding every time you lose I’m gonna love her louder than I hate you That’s the only kind of justice I can choose [Outro] [Guitar rings, almost breaking] You on that porch in my memory Cigarette shaking in the dark I ain’t erasing what you did, man I’m just setting fire to the mark (yeah)

rap, Gritty alt-blues rock with male vocals, swampy overdriven guitar and a slow, dragging groove. Kick and floor tom pulse like a tired heart; snare comes in late, loose and dusty. Verses lean into near-spoken word and hushed rap cadences, up close and confessional; chorus swells with strained melodic shouting and stacked low harmonies. Bridge strips down to voice and barely-there guitar hum, then returns with choked, feedback-kissed chords and a cracked vocal climax., blues, raw, vocal, minimal, emotional

Brother-in-Law Blues