Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is another song in a series I’m writing about the places that raised me.
A memory about my brother, the way we were growing up, and all the things I don’t think he ever knew he was to me.
Love to you,
Emery
Lyrics:
i had two older brothers
makin us three
shawn was just one year older than me
they kept addin more, year after year straight
til they finally finished at eight
shawn had red hair, tall, funny n fast
best friends with my oldest brother,
who wasn’t always a blast
they stuffed me in a sleepin bag,
held the end tightly closed
cooked baby duck eggs right n front of my nose
i played tricks right back at them
handed em a cup, said hold this
full of bees when they looked in
put flies in their sandwiches too
said was that yummy for you
they locked me out most days
said boys only allowed in to play
weird chants n cool dice with their friends
i’d just stay outside
learnin flips til the days end
but sometimes shawn would sit n talk to me
bout quiet things
a girl he liked at school
and what he could wear to look cool
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
shawn liked claire, a girl in school
she was pretty, popular n cool
we talked about her a lot
sittin together out on our block
he said she was sweet
made plans for them to meet
wanted to bring flowers and kiss her cheek
we went to a store with old clothes
found a members only jacket buried in the rows
he loved it, looked cool with his red hair
he wore it just hopin she’d care
he wanted to be cool for her
n i wanted her to like him for sure
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
shawn looked diff’rent than my older brother
his red hair made him brighter than any other
he got the best part in the school play
he was gulliver, even mom came that day
there he stood up tall on stage
singin n talkin loud, not afraid
that’s my brother, i told everyone near
i wanted the whole-wide room to hear
i smiled so big watchin him go
he was the star, he was the show
he looked so brave n happy too
i never knew what he could do
i could never do what he did
all those eyes, i woulda hid
i clapped so loud, stood to my feet
i wanted him to hear me
wanted him to see
we were all there, mom n me
everyone as happy as could be
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he ever knew what he was to me
_____________________________
Emery Island Original
Written and created by Emery Island
Lyrics by Emery
Vocals performed using AI voice tools to help bring these stories to life
#childhoodmemories
#storysongs
#originalsong
#places_that_raised_me
#indiefolk
#EmeryIsland
#growingup
#comingofage
#acousticstorytelling
#siblingmemory
This is another song in a series I’m writing about the places that raised me.
A memory about my brother, the way we were growing up, and all the things I don’t think he ever knew he was to me.
Love to you,
Emery
Lyrics:
i had two older brothers
makin us three
shawn was just one year older than me
they kept addin more, year after year straight
til they finally finished at eight
shawn had red hair, tall, funny n fast
best friends with my oldest brother,
who wasn’t always a blast
they stuffed me in a sleepin bag,
held the end tightly closed
cooked baby duck eggs right n front of my nose
i played tricks right back at them
handed em a cup, said hold this
full of bees when they looked in
put flies in their sandwiches too
said was that yummy for you
they locked me out most days
said boys only allowed in to play
weird chants n cool dice with their friends
i’d just stay outside
learnin flips til the days end
but sometimes shawn would sit n talk to me
bout quiet things
a girl he liked at school
and what he could wear to look cool
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
shawn liked claire, a girl in school
she was pretty, popular n cool
we talked about her a lot
sittin together out on our block
he said she was sweet
made plans for them to meet
wanted to bring flowers and kiss her cheek
we went to a store with old clothes
found a members only jacket buried in the rows
he loved it, looked cool with his red hair
he wore it just hopin she’d care
he wanted to be cool for her
n i wanted her to like him for sure
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
shawn looked diff’rent than my older brother
his red hair made him brighter than any other
he got the best part in the school play
he was gulliver, even mom came that day
there he stood up tall on stage
singin n talkin loud, not afraid
that’s my brother, i told everyone near
i wanted the whole-wide room to hear
i smiled so big watchin him go
he was the star, he was the show
he looked so brave n happy too
i never knew what he could do
i could never do what he did
all those eyes, i woulda hid
i clapped so loud, stood to my feet
i wanted him to hear me
wanted him to see
we were all there, mom n me
everyone as happy as could be
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he knew what he was to me
he was my brother
because he was
we fought, we laughed
that’s just how it was
sometimes i’d lose him, sometimes he’d choose me
i don’t think he ever knew what he was to me
_____________________________
Emery Island Original
Written and created by Emery Island
Lyrics by Emery
Vocals performed using AI voice tools to help bring these stories to life
#childhoodmemories
#storysongs
#originalsong
#places_that_raised_me
#indiefolk
#EmeryIsland
#growingup
#comingofage
#acousticstorytelling
#siblingmemory
