Blood Brother

Ben was born in Lincoln County and he grew up in the fens

Teased and bullied by his brothers in a family of ten

Sociable and easygoing, helping out around the home

While his inner life ticked on like an unexploded bomb

Just waiting for his moment

Going shopping with his mother like a whippet on the leash

Always straining at the traces, out of sight and out of reach

And anytime the house was empty he would work out on his own

Disappearing on his bike in the middle of the night

And stealing from the kitchen

Open your eyes...

Open your eyes... here I am

I'm your blood brother

Well he saved up his allowance and he studied like a slave

Worked his passage to Australia to try and make his getaway

I was single when I met him, he was bitter and nineteen

And he so reminded me of someone I used to be

A long long time ago

Open your eyes... I said

Open your eyes... here I am

I'm your blood brother

Now the years have been and vanished and I've lost a lot of friends

I do twenty at the pool then take my kid to school

Since the party had to end

But at a benefit last Sunday we met again as if by fate

I barely recognized Ben when he grabbed me again

And whispered in my ear

Open your eyes... he said

Open your eyes... here I am

I am your blood brother