Mike Hamilton

Lyrics

THE MIRROR
APPALACHIA
MICHAEL J. HAMILTON
©1998 JOE BAG O' DONUTS MUSIC BMI

THE GHOST OF HER MOTHER
CAME HAUNTING BACK TO HER
AS SHE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR THAT NIGHT
AT THE WOUNDS THAT SHE CARRIED
FROM THE TIMES THAT HE'D HIT HER
BROUGHT BACK ALL THOSE CHILDHOOD TIMES

WHEN SHE'D RUN FROM THE HOUSE
OR HIDE DEEP IN THE CELLAR
TO ESCAPE ALL THOSE VIOLENT FIGHTS
WHEN THE OLD MAN WAS DRINKING
AND SO FULL OF SELF PITY
HE WOULD TAKE IT ALL OUT ON HIS WIFE

SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO LEAVE HOME
SHE WAS TOO OLD TO HIDE IT
AND SHE KNEW THAT THEIR LIVES
WERN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY

SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO FIGHT IT
SHE KEPT IT PENT UP INSIDE HER
THOSE DARK PAINFUL SECRETS
THAT WON'T GO AWAY

THE DAY SHE TURNED SEVENTEEN
HER MAMMA'S PAIN IT ALL ENDED
IN A WRECK ON ROUTE 322
SHE DROVE THRU THE GUARD RAILS
BY THE CLARION RIVER
SHE COULD NO LONGER FIND AN EXCUSE

WELL HER OLD MAN HE VANISHED
WITH A BOTTLE DOWN TO PITTSBURGH
AND NEVER RE-ENTERED HER LIFE
AND SHE PROMISED HERSELF
IF SHE EVER GOT MARRIED
NO ABUSE WOULD SHE TAKE AS A WIFE

SHE THOUGHT IT ALL WAS BEHIND HER
NO MIRRORS TO REMIND HER
OF THE PAIN THAT SHE SAW
IN HER DEAR MOTHERS EYES
WHO WAS TOO WEAK TO FIGHT IT
SHE KEPT IT PENT UP INSIDE HER
ON ROUTE 322 SHE WOULD RUN ONE LAST TIME

WHEN THEY TRADED THEIR VOWS
SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE REALLY KNEW HIM
BUT THE TRUTH IN THE MIRROR REMAINED
AS SHE PACKED UP HER BAGS
HE UNLOCKED THE GUN CABINET
INTENDING ON MAKING HER STAY

WELL THE SECRET WAS OUT NOW
AND THE HONEYMOON'S OVER
AS THE AMBULANCE
SCREAMED THRU THE NIGHT
AND THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
READ NEXT MORNING
ABOUT A MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE

NOW IT'S ALL LEFT BEHIND HER
NO MIRRORS TO REMIND HER
OF THE PAIN THAT SHE SAW
IN HER POOR MOTHERS EYES
WHO WAS TOO WEAK TO FIGHT IT
SHE KEPT IT PENT UP INSIDE HER
THOSE DARK PAINFUL SECRETS
THAT COST THEM THEIR LIVES