Eulogy for Jacob Mercer by Cain Still Bleeds

[Verse 1 – Cain’s voice low, shaking, piano and rhythmic strings]
He was one of mine, a Foundry boy with scarred-up hands
We built him back from the fire, taught him how to stand like a man
I watched him rise from the ashes, watched the hunger fade
He laughed like a kid again, not a ghost in the shade
But the streets don’t forget, and the streets don’t forgive
He said, “Cain, I gotta face ‘em once more, or I’ll never live”
Went back to his brothers, just to lay it down straight
Told ‘em he was leaving — and that sealed his fate

[Verse 2 – Cain, voice trembling, acoustic + upright bass heartbeat, piano echoes]
He walked into that alley, shoulders squared but calm,
Said he came with no vengeance, just to lay down his arms.
Told his brothers of the blood, told ‘em chains don’t last,
That he’d found a better future, left the fire in the past.
But pride don’t forgive, and power don’t bend,
They saw his leaving as betrayal, not a road to amend.
I heard they circled close, like wolves in the night,
And my boy stood alone in the halo of that fight.
No needle, no bottle, no weakness to blame,
Just the weight of the streets that still played their game.
Now I see his face in every boy I meet,
Every lost kid’s eyes are a blade at my feet.

[Chorus – heavier, more grit in the vocal, instruments swell, strings pulling upward]
Why couldn’t I keep you? Why couldn’t I save?
Why couldn’t I drag you back from that grave?
I built you a shelter, I gave you my name,
But the storm don’t care, it still takes what it claims.
If strength was enough, you’d still be near,
But strength don’t hold when the night gets clear.
Why couldn’t I keep you? What did I miss?
Now I’m haunted by every prayer, every wish.

[Bridge – raw spoken-sung, voice breaking, electric guitar begins to growl underneath]
I shoulda sold my time, I shoulda sold my pride,
I shoulda sat by your bed every goddamn night.
I shoulda traded my songs, I shoulda sold my stage,
I shoulda given up everything to quiet your rage.
How many kids walk the same damn road?
How many hearts still carry that load?
I couldn’t keep you… but I swear to God,
I’ll keep the rest, no matter the cost.

[Verse 3 – Cain, voice breaks then roars, full-band explosion, guitars ripping, choir surge, drums pounding like thunder, strings screaming]
I’ll carve your name in the doors I build,
In the hands I guide, in the nights so still.
Every boy who comes knockin’, lost and weak,
I’ll fight for them all, though i

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[Funeral Eulogy – Preacher’s Voice, soft, broken, with reverb, faint coughs in the crowd, footsteps on old wood, distant sniffles] “Today, we gather… to lay to rest a young man gone too soon. "His name was Jacob Mercer. He wasn’t just some boy from the streets — he was family. I watched him fight his way out, brick by brick, smile by smile. And I swear, I thought he made it. He called me 'old man'... like I had answers. Truth is, he gave me hope I didn’t think I had left. And now he’s gone. And I don’t know how to carry that... [Verse 1 – Cain’s voice low, shaking, piano and rhythmic strings] He was one of mine, a Foundry boy with scarred-up hands We built him back from the fire, taught him how to stand like a man I watched him rise from the ashes, watched the hunger fade He laughed like a kid again, not a ghost in the shade But the streets don’t forget, and the streets don’t forgive He said, “Cain, I gotta face ‘em once more, or I’ll never live” Went back to his brothers, just to lay it down straight Told ‘em he was leaving — and that sealed his fate [Verse 2 – Cain, voice trembling, acoustic + upright bass heartbeat, piano echoes] He walked into that alley, shoulders squared but calm, Said he came with no vengeance, just to lay down his arms. Told his brothers of the blood, told ‘em chains don’t last, That he’d found a better future, left the fire in the past. But pride don’t forgive, and power don’t bend, They saw his leaving as betrayal, not a road to amend. I heard they circled close, like wolves in the night, And my boy stood alone in the halo of that fight. No needle, no bottle, no weakness to blame, Just the weight of the streets that still played their game. Now I see his face in every boy I meet, Every lost kid’s eyes are a blade at my feet. [Chorus – heavier, more grit in the vocal, instruments swell, strings pulling upward] Why couldn’t I keep you? Why couldn’t I save? Why couldn’t I drag you back from that grave? I built you a shelter, I gave you my name, But the storm don’t care, it still takes what it claims. If strength was enough, you’d still be near, But strength don’t hold when the night gets clear. Why couldn’t I keep you? What did I miss? Now I’m haunted by every prayer, every wish. [Bridge – raw spoken-sung, voice breaking, electric guitar begins to growl underneath] I shoulda sold my time, I shoulda sold my pride, I shoulda sat by your bed every goddamn night. I shoulda traded my songs, I shoulda sold my stage, I shoulda given up everything to quiet your rage. How many kids walk the same damn road? How many hearts still carry that load? I couldn’t keep you… but I swear to God, I’ll keep the rest, no matter the cost. [Verse 3 – Cain, voice breaks then roars, full-band explosion, guitars ripping, choir surge, drums pounding like thunder, strings screaming] I’ll carve your name in the doors I build, In the hands I guide, in the nights so still. Every boy who comes knockin’, lost and weak, I’ll fight for them all, though i

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