Story Behind The Song

Singer mourns loss of his mother after watching her endure slow but steep decline due to dementia.

Song Description

Bluesy slower ballad tells the story of a singer's experience of witnessing the decline of his elderly mother due to dementia and mourning her loss, while at the same time celebrating all she gave and left him and his family.

Lyrics

YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE

Watching this old film
I see you smiling everywhere
There's no sign of illness
And not one blank stare
I swear you glowed like a beacon
At that family barbecue
So to see your lights growin' diimmer now
Is a hard thing to do

You might not recall those many laughs we shared
Or any of those dishes you'd prepared
Or even that yard where we all once played
And it breaks my heart to see
YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE

You spoke to me of the saints
And the angels above
Jesus on the cross and
His undying love
We recited those Hail Marys and
Our Fathers by the score
Though you might not now remember
What that rosary is for

And it's hard for you to move when the church bells ring
Or remember the songs we used to sing
Or even those prayers that you so often prayed
And it pains me to see
YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE

Always said I was quick to walk
And even quicker to run
Oh but what a handful
Your only son
You tried your best to guide me
Even after papa died
I took a lot of what you taught me
And I cast it aside

But you won't recall those times I disobeyed
Or the face of a boy who was often afraid
Or the man standin' here singin' your serenade
And it brings me to tears to see
YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE
BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE

You were always razor sharp
And mighty quick with a rhyme
You could do most anything
Before the ravages of time
But courage and conviction
You taught your children well
Though you called this your purgatory
Well I know that it's been hell

You might not know the faces in those photo frames
Or the kids' artwork they've signed with their hearts and names
And though affection is never measured or weighed
It's still heavy on my heart to watch
YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE
BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE
BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE
BRIGHT LIGHTS FADE