I Never Knew

They say that there’s another life when this one is through
I never did believe it but now I hope it’s true
Just so I can get the chance to say these words to you:
I’m so sorry….I never knew.

You never were the man I wanted you to be
I didn’t understand why you hid yourself from me
The things you said, the things you did, they were such a mystery
I was so young….I could not see.

I never knew, I never knew
All the things that you went through
Just like all the others, I turned my back on you
I’m so sorry…I never knew

I lied and made up stories to cover up my shame
I grew up sad and angry when they called me by your name
And when you drank that whiskey and I’d hate what you became
I never knew… it was to kill the pain.

CHORUS

And when you died on All Saints Day and momma called me home
And through the days that followed she told me of things I’d never known
The stories of your life and how they cut you to the bone
The suffering… you bore all alone.

I never knew, I never knew
How your life was such a struggle through and through
So please, oh please, forgive me for the way I treated you
I’m so sorry…I never knew
I’m so sorry, I never knew.