My Brother

 

I'll put my hand up. I am almost entirely sure that when I went to see Kurt Elling in 2005 (Icons passim) Ian Shaw was the support and I didn't like him at all. Three months to the day since dad passed though and after a long conversation with John last night, this song - which he also wrote - has changed my mind. I remember him as rather overwrought performing in the Festival Hall. This is anything but.

My brother, my brother, my brother

Would have kept a close watch,

Explained the unknown, played the bass trombone

In a marching band.

My brother, my brother, my brother

Would have married a nurse.

I could have played in the church,

Watched him carefully find

His sweetheart's hand.

My brother was strong from our father's side.

His back was straight and long, and when my father cried

Because he didn't understand what I couldn't say,

My brother was there for us all anyway.

My brother, my brother, my brother

Would have bought me a beer

In a New York bar, said I've gone too far,

Try to be a better man.

My brother, my brother, my brother

Left a message for me.

He said he'd left his wife to be free.

We'll not all perfect you see,

My brother and me.

My brother was tall from my father's side.

Too tall to tumble and fall, but when my father died,

He gathered us in like little birds in a nest.

He did what he could, he just did his best.

My brother, my brother, my brother

Lies in peace, so they say,

Like we all do one day,

Whatever the hell we believe.

My brother, my brother,

Still keeps a close watch,

Still explains the unknown.

I hear his bass trombone sometimes.

My brother was strong from my father's side.

His back was straight and long, and when my father cried

'Cause he didn't understand what I just couldn't say,

My brother was there for us all anyway.

Never alone, never alone.