Not a very happy song, but I wasn't happy when I wrote and recorded it. It was recorded in Jake's room. I did all instruments and vocals. The drums were done by tapping the pads on an SR16.
Commercial uses of this track are NOT allowed
Adaptations of this track are NOT allowed to be shared
You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the artist
My beautiful son Jake took his life in April 2004 after struggling for a couple of years with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and displaying some bi-polar tendencies. We had some tough times, but he was also a great kid with a huge amount of potential. I wrote the lyrics on an Amtrak train coming from NYC to Wash DC summer of 2004. The music was somewhat in my head already.
You can't imagine what a tragedy like this does to a parent. It is absolutely hell on earth. Please feel free to visit his memorial website at www.williamjakeaustin.com
X’s For Eyes (Requiem for a Son)
music and lyrics by Jim Austin – copyright ©2004-05
On and on I live this life
Without you here with me
Crushed inside from pain and misery
Tried my best to keep you from
Thoughts within your head
But you chose to end your life instead
(chorus)
X’s for Eyes
I never felt your pain
X’s for Eyes
X’s for Eyes
You’ll never pass this way again
X’s for Eyes
He’s got X’s for Eyes
You were never mine to keep
This I always knew
But never did I think you’d leave so soon
Now you’re gone and here I sit
An empty room so cold
While a haunting darkness shrouds my soul
(repeat chorus)
Friends forget as life goes on
Memories fade away
But not for me as hallowed be thy name
Now I wait and count the days
Until I am set free
And death’s sweet mystery is revealed to me
(chorus)
X’s for Eyes
No one can feel my pain
X’s for Eyes
X’s for Eyes
Here comes my grief again
X’s for Eyes
He’s got X’s for Eyes