Story Behind The Song

This story was told to me by the person it happened to -- it's not about my own dad, who pretty much never lifted a finger against us...

Song Description

An angry rocker from a son who was abused by his father as a kid.

Lyrics

Best You Could
I hate to call you ?father?
you say you did the best you could
well, we have scars upon our bodies
from all you did for our own good

but no one ever saw the bruises
once momma got us dressed
you laid them down so carefully
beneath our Sunday best

I hope you sleep real good
for doin? the best you could

I was fifteen there the last time
with my shirt over my head
when you hit me so damn hard
I went and peed upon the bed

now you can never touch me
and I will not touch you
and you can turn to stone from the inside out
yeah, that?s just what you can do

and I hope you sleep real good
for doin? the best you could

to me you?re just a statue, a heartless piece of stone
a pillar of our community and a criminal in our home
now you stay right there on your pedestal
right where you belong
so big and tall and hard and cold
and all alone?

I hope you sleep real good?

I remember how you prayed in church
your head bowed down so low
and I prayed, too, with all my might
that you?d be gone when I got home

but there you were in your easy chair
a bottle by your side
no father left, just a monster there
lurking in your eyes

I can still hear your wet whisper
?don?t you love your daddy, too??
well, I hope you sleep real good tonight
knowin? you did the best that you could do

was that the best that you could do?

© 2002 Tony Rooney