Oblivious to the Obvious - from "Oblivious to the Obvious"

Part 1
NO CHANCE

He was never there for me
He rarely looked my way
When he’d come home tired from work
He never had a thing to say

And if he ever spoke to me
It was always in anger
When I tried to speak to him
He’d treat me like a stranger

What kind of father hits his son,
Takes out his pain on everyone?
Thinks only of himself, like he’s the only one
Who exists in the world that needs someone

What chance did I have
Of turning out right?
I never learned a thing at home
That could help me with my life
Always being yelled at
And deprived of any fun
That childhood should consist of
Never loved by anyone

She always shot me down
With a bullet from her mouth
She made me feel so guilty
If I wanted to leave the house

She’d disregard everyone
In a power-hungry spree
Clean the house like a psycho
Driven by her OCD

What kind of mother neglects her son,
Puts down her child, says he’s no one?
Thinks only of herself and if her house is clean
Wants nothing more than status and prestige

What chance did I have
Of turning out right?
I never learned a thing at home
That could help me with my life
Always being yelled at
And deprived of any fun
That childhood should consist of
Never loved by anyone

No chance of having self-esteem
No chance when rage is a constant theme
No chance of showing love for their son
No chance when they think about themselves or else no one
No chance when innocence is reviled
No chance when blame is placed upon a child
No chance if good examples can’t be found
No chance if parents do not want to be around

Part 2
REALIZATION

The news dropped like a bomb
And I felt numb inside
How could I get cancer?
I pleaded for God to give me an answer

The diagnosis compelled me
To look back at my life
What I saw brought sorrow
A troubled past and a bleak tomorrow

My life is such a tragedy
The common theme is misery
Now my end is drawing near
They say I’ll die within the year

I look inside and see my parents’ ghosts
I’ve become the thing I hated most
The pain is tearing me in two
The guilt is burning me right through

Why did it take something like this
To make me realize I’m just like them?
I treat my kids unfairly, I know them just barely
I’ve never shown caring, I’m sure that they hate me

I look inside and see my parents’ ghosts
I’ve become the thing I hated most
The pain is tearing me in two
The guilt is burning me right through

Is it too late to make amends?
Is it too late to forgive my sins?
Will my kids even care when I’m dead?
Am I ever a thought in their heads?

Part 3
REMEMBER ME

I know that I’m committed to change
Change is something that will take time
Time is stealing away from me
My chance to become what I should be
My chance to become

I don’t have time
To gain their trust
I want to prove
They have my love
I hope my death
Will make them weep
But I fear their wounds
Have run too deep

Time is against me
They’re better off without me
But before I meet my death
I will use my every breath
To tell them I was wrong
And to change who I’ve become
So that when I’m gone
Someone will remember me

I asked each one for their forgiveness
I acknowledged that I had failed them all
I have to mend the damage caused
But change takes longer than I thought
But change takes so long

I don’t have strength
To give enough
I want to show
I’m serious
I hope my life
Is far from gone
But I fear my chance
Has been withdrawn

Time is against me
They’re better off without me
But before I meet my death
I will use my every breath
To tell them I was wrong
And to change who I’ve become
So that when I’m gone
Someone will remember me

I’m free
I have redemption
It is in remission
And I’ll make good my second chance
I’m free
I have recognition
I’m in transition
To the man I want to be

Part 4
IN MY HANDS

Too often life, it slips away
And failures can’t be rectified
Everyone makes some mistakes
But I would have died unsatisfied

I saw myself at my very core
I don’t want to be that anymore
Now I see through different eyes
I see the way that I have hurt their lives

Chains broken and left in the past
Bonds of my parents are gone at last
I’ve let go of who I’ve been
Escaped the prison they put me in

As I hold my life in my hands
I’ll make good my second chance
Finally when I meet my end
I can be proud of who I am

Can’t let memories haunt me
Unjustified actions taunt me
I have too much to repair
For all the years I was unfair

My redemption has just begun
And I know it will be hard
But I know that who I am
Is the person I should have been

Bonds broken and left in the past
Chains of the cycle are gone at last
Now I decide who I will be
No cloud of darkness hanging over me

As I hold my life in my hands
I’ll make good my second chance
Finally when I meet my end
I can be proud of who I am

I will never again be the man I’ve been

Part 5
REDEMPTION
(Instrumental)