“Blowback” or “Please Don’t Kill my Baby!” [song lyrics]
The day he took my little one
he’d gone without his coat
to school and I was worried
(he’d complained about his throat).
I thought he might have had a cold
or something I could mend.
I didn’t know I wouldn’t
see his face again.
They phoned me as I ate my lunch
my mouth was full of food;
the clock’s hands etched upon my mind
the moment that I knew.
Half-past two’s the twisted shape;
I see it in my head.
I wish that it was me
who’d died instead.
Please don’t kill my baby,
she’s my only pride and joy.
Make sure you keep your bullets
from my precious lovely boy.
I’m sorry that my brothers —
me and my father too —
made war across the world and
many mothers’ kids we slew.
At first I felt so outraged that
a man could take my child,
shoot him through in cold blood
like a savage in the wild.
But then I cast my mind back
to my service in Iraq;
remembered all those kids
that I shot in the back.
I raped their teenage sisters
and beheaded all their dads,
played football with their faces;
there was me and all the lads.
Then driving back to HQ
we joked till we were sore.
That was my life till
I could take no more.
Please don’t kill my baby,
she’s my only pride and joy.
Make sure you keep your bullets
from my precious lovely boy.
I’m sorry that my brothers —
me and my father too —
made war across the world and
many mothers’ kids we slew.
Vocal bridge:
[My dreams are haunted by the many kids I’ve killed
through pressing buttons, knifing and firing guns at will.
Wife won’t believe me although I’ve tried to speak
I thought I’d heard it all until I heard her shriek.]
So I just lost my kiddie through
some psycho on the loose.
They always say that chickens
will be coming home to roost.
What goes around must come around —
I see the pattern now.
I’ll never kill again
and that’s my vow.
I’ll never kill again
and that’s my vow.
© 2013, Alan Morrison
The Naked Troubadour 