Self-Induced Penance
He’s got kids, and he’s got a wife
He’s got everything a man could ask for, in this life
But he’s got guilt, and he’s got pain
Since he came home, he’s not the same
He don’t say much about it, but once a year
He cries a lot, and smells like beer
He talks about a man, his family’s never met
Cause he died in the war, and Daddy just can’t forget
CHORUS
And she said, when will you be finished?
With this self-induced penance
You don’t owe anybody, anything, anymore
What’s all this for?
She cried
As he walked out the door
Once more time
He felt like he could never do enough
He had to do it perfect, and man that’s rough
He was driven, they all thought it was ambition
He tackled everything, just like it was a mission
But the truth is, he felt he had a debt
Cause they died and he’s here, and he just can’t forget
And she said, when will you be finished?
With this self-induced penance
You don’t owe anybody, anything, anymore
What’s all this for?
She cried
As he walked out the door
Once more time
But then one night, when they were both at the point of break
She said let me help you, come back, for God’s sake
There’s a reason, you got to come on home
And though you feel it, you are never alone
Cause for your children, and me your wife
Baby you, are the center of our life
And she said, when will you be finished?
With this self-induced penance
You don’t owe anybody, anything, anymore
What’s all this for?
She cried
But he didn’t walk out the door
This time