Ain’t Alright at All (Dirge for the Damned)

⸻ [Intro – Soft fiddle and accordion, like a funeral in a dive bar] (Sound of a match strike. Whispered breath. Maybe boots walking slowly over gravel. Then… a quiet acoustic guitar riff begins.) ⸻ [Verse 1 – Low and Raspy, Sung Alone] Sun creeps in through the blinds again Dust in the air, and hurt in my skin They said, “You made it, you’re home, you’re free” But the war came back and it sleeps with me I see ’em in dreams, I hear ‘em at night The dead don’t leave when you turn off the light ⸻ [Chorus – Full Band Joins Softly, With Worn Male Harmonies] “You’re home now, son, you’ll be alright” But I still shake when the moon gets bright They gave me bottles, blue and white Said they’d chase away the fight But this pain don’t bleed, and it don’t scream— It just waits in the dark… rippin’ the seams ⸻ [Verse 2 – Accordion Sways in Gently] I tried to talk, but their eyes looked through Like they didn’t want to know what the hell I knew The heat, the blood, the boys I saw fall Now it’s silence here… and I hear it all They said “Time will heal,” but time just steals And leaves you choking on what’s real ⸻ [Chorus – More Soul, More Grief] “You’re home now, son, you’ll be alright” But I still drown in the quiet at night They gave me pills like they give out praise But the ghosts still haunt my better days They said it’s all just in my head— But tell that to the ones who ain’t dead ⸻ [Bridge – Spoken Grit, Over Solemn Fiddle] I walked this town like a shadow’s ghost Lost more here than I did down close Then the phone rang… one cold July Told my dad that his son laid down, Kitchen floor… with a tear and a note A final fight that I couldn’t remote ⸻ [Final Chorus – Quiet, Then Swelling With Grief] “You’re home now, son, it’ll be okay…” But they’re buryin’ soldiers every goddamn day Swallowed those pills ‘til I slipped away Another name on a folded display They said it’s all just in our minds— But I’ve seen too much to be that blind ⸻ [Outro – Fade to Whisper, One Last Verse Spoken] What good is peace if the soul’s not free? What good is home when it don’t know me? I’ve got medals and silence, I’ve got scars and shame And a flag in the closet that don’t ease the pain No… It ain’t alright… Not for them… Not for me… Not at all.