Family Tradition

Sounds a lot to me like Alcoholism is affecting him. Or it could be some other drug addiction that was passed down genetically. This songs makes it sound like his father ran off when he was too young to know him and then left him with nothing but some disease (alcoholism). This is why he says: "Forgive me I inherited this From a stranger I'll never miss(his dad left him with genes that are less than beneficial) I'm sick(alcoholism)." so basically i guess he is scared that he is turning out like his father and really doesn't want to. He hopes that his father is proud of how he ruined his son's life. Idk that is just my take on it.

This is such an amazing song.

Oh man, I saw you post this on the family tradition blog, and i was hoping i could beat you here to make sure you didn't post the same thing again : (

I tried to be the one that everybody loved Where has that gotten me

I tear myself to shreds to prove that I'm someone That I could never be Now these unsightly marks define me

So help me Please someone come quick I think I am losing it Forget me I inherited this From a stranger I'll never miss

I'm sick

My Father taught me Firsthand how to be set free Give up and run away

I wish I could drain out his half of blood in me But I still have his face I curse reflections every day

So help me Please someone come quick I think I am losing it Forget me I inherited this From a stranger I'll never miss

Here is my own family tradition Following footsteps into addiction So is there a way, that I can find peace while still marrying my pain Is this my fate, cuz your only son still can't seem to find his way

So help me Please someone come quick I think I am losing it Forgive me I inherited this From a stranger I'll never miss

So father where the hell are you now? I think that you would be proud Your son who's so unlike a leaf fell right next to the tree

I hope you’re proud of me I hope you’re proud

I agree Buddy's voice does sound slightly different, but then again, it also did in Still Searching. But what I love about it, is that his voice changes as their music matures and becomes more than just music. I like how even though the lyrics are a lot deeper, their sound has stayed the same. Not saying that if it hadn't, I wouldn't listen to them. I just feel that they are one hell of a gem in the music business.

almost right. here are the lyrics from the book.

i try to be the one that everybody loves where has that gotten me i tear myself to shreds to prove that I'm someone that I coud never be now these unsightly marks define me

so help me please someone come quick I think i am losing it forgive me I inherited this from a stranger I'll never miss I'm sick

my father taught me firsthand how to be set free give up and run away if I coud I'd drain out his half of blood in me but I'd still have his face I curse reflections every day

this is my own family tradition following footsteps into addiction so is there a way that I can find peace while still numbing my pain is this my fate cause your only son still can't seem to find his way

so father where the hell are you now I think that you would be proud of your son who so unluckily fell right next to the tree I hope you're proud of me

last few lnes I liked because Lungs Like Gallows was all about his relationship with bad luck

I love this song. It's my 2nd favorite on this album next to Four Years.

At a recent concert Buddy said pretty much the exact same thing illegalpunkrkr said. He said how it's about finding out who you are, and stopping trying to being what you think someone in your family wants you to be, and being who you want to be.

I love this song so much. It has a really personal reflection on me, because I can relate to it a lot, especially to what Buddy said, also this line

"My Father taught me Firsthand how to be set free Give up and run away

I wish I could drain Out his half of blood in me But I still have his face

I curse reflections every day"

My birth father was a skin-head bastard, and left my mom after she found out she was pregnant. He wanted her to abort me. But the thing is, he had another girlfriend, when he got her pregnant. He's a racist asshole, and has he's hidden his identity from being found, like we can't locate him or anything. I used to want to at least know him.
I guess according to my mom and grandma, I look physically a lot like him. But I hate having his blood.

But yeah, this song just rocks.

and guys, try to go to any Senses Fail concert near you, theses guys are so kickass. I've been following them since 03. They're so amazing in concert. Buddy is all crowd surfing, and he sings such a variety, I mean as a treat they played one eight seven to close the show.

I love these guys.

wow.this song is amazing!!! i get audiorgasms from this.cant wait for the album!!!!!!!!!!buddys voice sounds a bit different though.anyone else think so?

So is Buddy blaming his heroin addiction on his father?

“I find myself at times doing things to live up to other peoples’ expectations, or cutting myself down because I assume that will make me look more humble to the world,” says Nielsen. “So this song is one part a reaction to that, and also about following the footsteps of a family member you don't really know, but who has had a huge influence on you.” ----From their myspace

Yes, it seems that his dad left him now he fears he is turning into him.

but yeah i agree with laxwarrior, something weird happened to his voice :S