Brothers
A WWII tribute to those who died, and those who were left behind.
Music and Lyrics
by Gary Wm. Koehler
THE PLAYERS
Michael Gould — music, vocals
THE COMMENTARY
LYRICS
no one was there that night
all the windows were boarded tight
eight stories of the war machine burned down
no more tears were shed
some remembered the dead
my brother i never found
brothers go away to war
fathers stay to mind the store
mothers keep us safe at home
no more glowing stacks
father died of a heart attack
i never saw my brother again
my sister moved away
she married some guy in LA
we keep in touch every now and then
brothers go away to war
fathers stay to mind the store
mothers keep us safe at home
moved up to Coeur d’Alene
made a life in the snow and rain
i spent my summers on the lake
sometimes it brings me back
when I hear the thunder crack
i can still feel the fire like it’s ’48
my brother went away to war
my father stayed to mind the store
my mother kept us safe at home
so goes the American Dream
up in smoke or so it would seem
to those who gave their lives
to those who gave their lives
to those who gave their lives back in ’43
back in ’43
Behind
the Song
My good friend, co-member of my first band, and songwriting collaborator Gary Wm. Koehler wrote this song...
... and published it on his excellent album Tempest in a Teacup. I’ve always liked his version of it (which is very different from this one), but ever since first hearing it, I imagined a martial setting suggested by the lyrics, a military snare and bass drum depicting a funereal march, a memorial. Then I thought, what if I did the song completely orchestrally: piano, yes, but no rock band instruments, rather trombones, French horns and trumpets, violins, violas, cellos and double basses, timpani, orchestral snares and bass drum, and cymbals.
This is the haunting result. Thanks Gary.
