Lisa Dery: Music

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

I find the thought of losing my parents agonizing, and I wanted to write a song about how devastating I imagine that loss would be. While working on the lyrics to “To my Sister”, I found that the song was much more effective if my parents were already dead, so I killed them (in the lyrics that is). Luckily, my parents have senses of humour and could see the ridiculousness of the situation. Thankfully, they’re both healthy and very much alive! The music is up-tempo and joyful, which contradicts the lyrics. I hope this effect will leave the listener feeling that although the song’s character can’t see it right now, life will go on for her.”

To my Sister (Lyrics)

Remember how we used to be
Oh remember how you’d play with me
Dress-up and tag and Monopoly
Those are my favourite memories

Ohhhhh
Happiness felt so natural to me
Ohhhhh
Now sadness is a way of life for me

Mom would walk us to school everyday
Daddy would take us for drives on Sunday
You’d smoke in the yard behind the apple tree
I’d threaten to tell if you didn’t let me

Ohhhhh
I yearn to go back to that simplicity
Ohhhhh
Unaware I could lose those so close to me

Dad slipped away last year in May
I’d never felt loss like on that day
Then Mom’s broken heart that would never mend
Faded away ‘til she joined her best friend

Ohhhhh
Without them, I’ll never feel whole again
Ohhhhh
Life has now changed, I don’t know who I am

Now you are the one who finds courage in pain
I’m sorry to show I am weak once again
You’ll carry on with your new family
Your husband and kids who depend on your strength

Ohhhhh
Without them, I’ll never feel whole again
Ohhhhhh
I’ll see you again but I don’t know when…


© Lisa Déry – 2001