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Happy Returns Lyrics
Hey brother, happy returns
It's been a while now
I bet you thought that I was dead
But I'm still here, nothing's changed
Hey brother, I'd love to tell you
I've been busy
But that would be a lie
'Cause the truth is
The years just pass like trains
I wave but they don't slow down
Hey brother, I see the freaks
Dispossessed on day release
Avoiding the police
I feel I'm falling once again
But now there's no one left to catch me
Hey brother, I feel I'm living in parentheses
And I've got trouble with the bills
Do the kids remember me?
Well I got gifts for them
And for you more sorrow
But I'm feeling kind of drowsy now
So I'll finish this tomorrow
It's been a while now
I bet you thought that I was dead
But I'm still here, nothing's changed
Hey brother, I'd love to tell you
I've been busy
But that would be a lie
'Cause the truth is
The years just pass like trains
I wave but they don't slow down
Hey brother, I see the freaks
Dispossessed on day release
Avoiding the police
I feel I'm falling once again
But now there's no one left to catch me
Hey brother, I feel I'm living in parentheses
And I've got trouble with the bills
Do the kids remember me?
Well I got gifts for them
And for you more sorrow
But I'm feeling kind of drowsy now
So I'll finish this tomorrow
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
*And for you and sorrow
First up, what a beautiful song!
Can confirm the lyric is "and for you and sorrow", as written in the booklet that comes with the album. Not sure what this means though...
For the song generally I think this is a letter, mostly because of the "so I'll finish this tomorrow", not sure how else that would make sense. I think perhaps this is an unfinished letter the protagonist of the album started writing before she died and was subsequently only discovered much later. Perhaps written to her literal brother.
For background, Steven has stated that the album concept in general is based on the story of Joyce Carol Vincent, a young woman who lived in isolation such that when she died in her apartment the body was not discovered for three years.
@jpdwebb - Yes, definitely an unfinished letter to her brother - the Deluxe book edition actually contains an envelope with a handwritten letter which has the lyrics to the song. Here is the relevant "blog post" from handcannoterase.com: "I barely know my brother. I know he has a wife and 2 children, but I have no idea if he’s happy or what is important to him, I never did, he never gave anything away. Maybe he learnt that from me. I met his family once, the last time I went home for Christmas, 4 years ago, the...
@jpdwebb - Yes, definitely an unfinished letter to her brother - the Deluxe book edition actually contains an envelope with a handwritten letter which has the lyrics to the song. Here is the relevant "blog post" from handcannoterase.com: "I barely know my brother. I know he has a wife and 2 children, but I have no idea if he’s happy or what is important to him, I never did, he never gave anything away. Maybe he learnt that from me. I met his family once, the last time I went home for Christmas, 4 years ago, the children were too young to understand who I was, and I’m sure my brother and his wife probably figured their Aunt was always going to be largely absent from their lives anyway, so no point letting them get close to me. But still every year I get a Christmas card from them and an invitation to visit, whether out of duty or genuine concern I couldn’t say. It arrived today and for some reason this time it made me cry. I realised there’s no point now."
@BigRed97 Cool, I actually had read that blog post (before hearing the album so didn't remember/connect it). Makes sense!
@BigRed97 Cool, I actually had read that blog post (before hearing the album so didn't remember/connect it). Makes sense!
@jpdwebb Regarding your first paragraph: I understand it tied to the previous line. She has gifts for the children and sorrow for him by her coming (whether via her telling tales of woe or they dealing/not-dealing with problems between eachother).
@jpdwebb Regarding your first paragraph: I understand it tied to the previous line. She has gifts for the children and sorrow for him by her coming (whether via her telling tales of woe or they dealing/not-dealing with problems between eachother).
Although this album is a mostly fictional account of Joyce Vincent's life, according to her Wikipedia page, her body was indeed found surrounded by wrapped Christmas presents, which seems to suggest that she did intend to reconnect with some of the people she had estranged herself from. That one detail makes a sad story so much sadder.
Agreed, that last line "I'm feeling kind of drowsy now so I'll finish this tomorrow" really hits hard.
Agreed, that last line "I'm feeling kind of drowsy now so I'll finish this tomorrow" really hits hard.
@BigRed97 Cool, I actually had read that blog post (before hearing the album so didn't remember/connect it). Makes sense!
Probably one of the saddest songs Wilson ever wrote. My lord, what a feeling of just pit-bottom sorrow that this track soaks into you.