I wrote this song for local Cleveland group The Advocates, let by singer/songwriter Paul Senick. To this day it’s one of my favorite lyrics of all I’ve written.

GIVE IT BACK

Joanie’s husband beat her like a drum for nineteen years,
Held her ego hostage in a cage of pain and fear.
Bruises heal and bones mend, but what about the soul,
His fists and words just beat her down, and each one took its toll.
Joanie suffered silently, she never made a scene.
She kept it bottled up inside, a never ending scream.
Until the night her husband woke to the smell of gasoline.
As Joanie struck the match she said, give it back to me.

Give it back, give it back to me,
All the years and all the tears you took from me.
Give it back, give me back my life,
How’s it feel to dangle from the sharp edge of the knife.
Give it back, give it back to me,
Give it back, give it back to me.

Patty Anne was barely ten when her father came to call,
Creeping like a prowler in the darkness, down the hall.
You won’t tell a soul he said, here’s what it’s about.
I brought you into this world and I can take you out.
Patty suffered silently, she never made a scene.
She kept it bottled up inside, a never ending scream.
Until the night her father woke to the smell of gasoline.
As Patty struck the match she said, give it back to me.

Give it back, give it back to me,
All the years and all the tears you took from me.
Give it back, give me back my life,
How’s it feel to dangle from the sharp edge of the knife.

Give it back, give it back to me,
All the years and all the tears you took from me.
Give it back, give me back my life,
How’s it feel to dangle from the sharp edge of the knife.
Give it back, give it back to me,
Give it back, give it back to me.