Lyrics My Brother's Keeper - Jim White

My Brother's Keeper

Did you hear the sad news about Harry
They wrote in the paper, he died yesterday
I’ve been meaning to stop by and have a word with him
But it never did quite work out that way
As a kid he was always big and shy
The old boys would taunt him, but Harry would just walk on by
He never much was inclined
To take advantage of his size
Now Harry Allen is dead, Lord, Harry Allen is dead
He gained 300 pounds and he wouldn’t leave his house
No he never got out of bed
Now Harry Allen is dead
Never said goodbye to my old childhood friend
When he was 20 I introduced him to a honey of a girl
She was a honkey tonkin' sweetheart
A real woman of the word
I didn’t mean my friend no harm
I just wanted him to have some fun
But there was no righting that wrong
Once the troubles had begun
For so smitten was poor Harry
That wedding ring in hand
He begged that girl married him
And when she laughed at that sweet man
Harry hung his head and cried
Like some grievous wounded child
He walked back home and got in bed
Harry never rose again
Now Harry Allen is dead, Lord, Harry Allen is dead
He gained 300 pounds and he wouldn’t leave his house
No he never got out of bed
Now Harry Allen is dead
Never said goodbye to my old childhood friend
When God asked Cain, «Child where’d your brother go?»
Cain shook his head, he lied and said, «Lord, I do not know.»
It’s like a piece of Cain came over me and bound my tongue that day
For as the years went by, to my shame, me and Harry
We never spoke again
Now Harry Allen is dead, Lord, Harry Allen is dead
He gained 300 pounds and he wouldn’t leave his house
No he never got out of bed
Now Harry Allen is dead
Never said goodbye to my old childhood friend
Now the funeral is tomorrow
And Harry’s dad just phoned to say
He needs four extra pallbearers
I sighed and said, «Okay.»
This midnight finds me wondering
About the mighty and the weak
How maybe Jesus Christ was wrong
When he said, «Blessed are the meek.»
For Harry Allen is dead, Lord, Harry Allen is dead
He gained 300 pounds and he wouldn’t leave his house
No he never got out of bed
Now Harry Allen is dead
Never said goodbye to my old childhood friend