There's sadness in the family, Dad told me
Let's not speak of it, it only brings us down
And 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 its constant whine
Smelled 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 growing
I found the dead animal the smell stems from
I read the story from which the shadow
Was cast
I searched and searched and now that I
Found it
I want to give it back
There's trouble in the family, I tell you
I know and now that I do
Kid, I'm pa**ing it on to you
But let's not speak of it, son
It only brings us down