Story Behind The Song

Four years ago, I was excommunicated from the Jehovah's Witness' faith and disowned by my family because of my sexuality. In the years to follow, I wrote the songs on my cd "The Afflicted" as I struggled with drugs, thoughts of suicide, and the death of my estranged father to colon cancer. This song is partly autobiographical. Moreso, it tells the story of a path that many who face this kind of rejection end up going down.

Song Description

This song is about a boy who runs away from home because of the shame his sexuality has caused his family. He becomes addicted to crystal meth and feeling like his life has no meaning he "quietly slips away." When his parents get the news of his death the say, "We'll bow our heads and pray for the boy God never forgave." I think that reflects the lack of compassion that some Christian religions show.

Lyrics

The Afflicted

He lies awake, too strung out to dream
Can?t forget the dirty things he?s seen
The ugly faces following
Want to pull him down
What?s another addiction when it hurts?
When you?re of the afflicted, the cursed
What?s another day for the boy God never forgave

Because he?s lost all meaning
Losing faith and losing soul
It?s a bitter season
Losing all you?ve ever known
So you choke another feeling
Feel less every time you fall
So tired of getting high
But nowhere else to go
He walks among the afflicted

Come to Jesus your sickness he would heal
In the light of truth you?d be set free
What does Christ know of this curse?
What does he know of me?
He ran away from all the shame, the fear
The look of judgement in their stares
Left a note, ?I?m sorry?your baby?s just a little queer.?

And he?s lost all meaning
Losing faith and losing soul
It?s a bitter season
Losing all you?ve ever known
So you choke another feeling
Feel less every time you fall
So tired of getting high
But nowhere else to go
He walks among the afflicted

Rejection he can?t take anymore
Acceptance in a stranger?s arms
He goes on this way just as long
As he never feels a thing
Cuts another line again
Before he starts remembering
Before the pain rises up again
The crystal starts to swallow

Because he?s lost all meaning
Losing faith and losing soul
It?s a bitter season
Losing all you?ve ever known
So you choke another feeling
Feel less every time you fall
So tired of getting high
But where else could he go?

When you?ve lost all meaning
Losing faith and losing soul
It?s a bitter season losing all you?ve ever known
And you choke another feeling
Feel less every time you fall
So tired of getting high
But no where else to go

In the end he?s only skin and bones
In a moment all his fear will go
Quietly he?ll slip away
No one will hear a thing
They get the call and his parents say
?What a pity, what a shame.
We?ll bow our heads and pray
For the boy god never forgave.?