Fighter’s Lament  

 

The wind blows so cold in the Edmonton outskirts

And we played all our hockey outside

I made my escape when I left to play juniors

But my mom and my dad, they both cried

 

And man, I could outskate an Alberta clipper

Till my ACL tore and I knew

That my fists and my hard head were all that could keep me

From the work that my dad had to do

 

CHORUS    

 

Now the years have been hard, and my hands are all battered

And the rinks are piss poor through and through

But I once played for Hershey, and these East Coast League wages

Are more than my dad every drew

 

Those days when a fighter like me had a future

Are gone and I know that it’s true

But all these concussions have left me so foggy

Man, I’m not sure what else I can do

           

So I play when I can, and I fight when I have to

I doubt that it matters much now

 ‘cause I think CTE may be causing these headaches

Hope to God I escape it somehow

 

BRIDGE

 

All those kid dreams dissolved into fear

No joy left in skating, no comfort in beer

 

CHORUS

 

Words and music ©2023 by David Massey

 

David - lead vocal and rhythm guitar

Jay Byrd - guitar

Miles Lieder - drums

Jim Robeson - bass

Bill Starks - piano and organ