Jackals

Lyrics

JACKALS IN THE FAMILY Emotional Cinematic Pop-Rock Ballad [INTRO – SOFT PIANO, FRAGILE VOCALS] You wanna know the deepest kind of pain? It's not losing someone you love... It's realizing they never loved you the same. And the people you called family... Were the ones who walked away. [VERSE 1 – GENTLE, BUILDING EMOTION] Scavengers and swindlers alike, Screaming behind closed doors at night. I was just a child, hiding from the fight, Praying someone would make things right. I gave my time, I gave my labour, You drained my heart and called it favour. I gave you kindness, gave you trust, You took it all and left me in the dust. You smiled and asked for one more favour, Pretending you were my saviour. You took the perks, you took the praise, Then turned against the one you raised. [PRE-CHORUS – VOICE BREAKING] And I kept asking myself why, Was I never worth the fight? How could the ones who gave me life, Be the ones who left me behind? [CHORUS – SOARING, HEARTBREAKING] JACKALS IN THE FAMILY! I NEVER SAW YOUR TEETH! I WAS BEGGING YOU TO LOVE ME, WHILE YOU TOOK THE BEST OF ME! JACKALS IN THE FAMILY! HOW COULD YOU TURN AWAY? WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN, YOU LEFT ME THERE TO TAKE THE BLAME! AND I WOULD'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING, JUST TO KNOW THAT I BELONGED! BUT THE PEOPLE I CALLED FAMILY, WERE THE ONES WHO DID ME WRONG! [VERSE 2 – EMOTIONAL, RISING] And what cuts deeper than the lies? Watching everyone take your side. Nobody asked what I'd been through, They believed your version of the truth. You wanted quiet, wanted tame, Someone willing to absorb the blame. Maintain the peace, maintain the show, God forbid we break the status quo. You called me bitter, called me cruel, For refusing to remain your fool. You demanded forgiveness, demanded grace, While you lied straight to my face. [BRIDGE – STRIPPED PIANO, NEAR WHISPER] Tragedy has a way of showing you... Who people really are. When everything was going well, You said you'd never let me fall. But when the chips were down... When there was something to lose... You'd rather chew off your own leg Than face what you put me through. Only... It was never your leg. It was mine. [FINAL CHORUS – EXPLOSIVE, VOCAL BREAKS] JACKALS IN THE FAMILY! I FINALLY SEE YOUR TEETH! ALL THE SMILES THAT HID THE HUNGER, ALL THE LIES BENEATH! YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PERFECT PICTURES, YOUR STORIES AND YOUR SHAME! BUT YOU DON'T GET TO BREAK MY HEART, THEN MAKE ME TAKE THE BLAME! [OUTRO – BITTERSWEET, BUILDING TO FINAL BELT] Now all the jackals are cackling, Pretending they got away with murder. But someday you'll taste your medicine, Growing old, alone and bitter. You will no longer take from me, I've nothing left to deliver. And if walking away makes me the problem... Then please... CALL ME A QUITTER! [FINAL – SOFT PIANO, BROKEN VOICE] I didn't need your money... I didn't need your approval... I just needed you to love me. And apparently... That was too much to ask.