A Nearly Lived Life
Album: Mostly Fine
Lyrics by Melissa Bianco
An intimate, mournful song with restrained female vocals, tracing a father’s unrealized promise, alcoholism, and the lasting grief of his absence. The Radio Edit offers a shorter telling; the Album Cut expands the story in a haunting indie folk and pop arrangement.
Radio Edit
Lyrics
Immigrant from Holland in ’53
Shared a bed with your brothers
Big family
Lived poor, raised right by your mother
Grew up in Alberta – son, brother
Infinite plans, life on a roll
Handsome teen, artistic soul
Clever, funny
Limitless dreams
Strong and devoted
Kindred themes
But a demon you didn’t see coming
Drinks to soothe – now he’s hunting you
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Barely 17 when you met my mom
Whirlwind romance, both so young
Full of charm – you, her soulmate
Dove in too fast
Simple mistake
Grew up fast, dreams on pause
Stifled the poet, blue-collar jobs
Broke and young – one daughter, then two
Dreams pushed aside, limiting you
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Bitterness, arguments – tension grows
No one comments, but everyone knows
Girls sobbed and begged
When you closed the door
Monthly visits
A weekend to stay
Little girls fight – did they drive you away?
Maybe you never loved them all along
What happened to you?
Why didn’t you call?
Artist, dreamer – a masquerade ball
We waited
Watching
Did you forget us?
Did we remind you
Of what you’d lost?
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Seasons gone, the earth passed the sun
Girls grown up, no longer young
Seeing you again – familial stranger
Someone I should know – but I don’t
I was in my living room when I got the call
You’d died in the night – maybe a fall
Every night after a trip to the bar
Cinnamon whiskey – never too far
You fell asleep
But never woke up
Oooh
Oooh
Album Cut
Lyrics
Immigrant from Holland in ’53
Shared a bed with your brothers
Big family
Lived poor, raised right by your mother
Grew up in Alberta – son, brother
Infinite plans, life on a roll
Handsome teen, artistic soul
Clever, funny
Limitless dreams
Strong and devoted
Kindred themes
But a demon you didn’t see coming
Drinks to soothe – now he’s hunting you
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Barely 17 when you met my mom
Whirlwind romance, both so young
Full of charm – you, her soulmate
Dove in too fast
Simple mistake
Barely a teen, now a suit and a cake
Wedding dress, tight in the waist
Grew up fast, dreams on pause
Stifled the poet, blue-collar jobs
The flaw grew, drinking together
What happened to ever after?
Broke and young – one daughter, then two
Dreams pushed aside, limiting you
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Bitterness, arguments – tension grows
No one comments, but everyone knows
Then came a betrayal, too big to ignore
Girls sobbed and begged
When you closed the door
Monthly visits
A weekend to stay
Little girls fight – did they drive you away?
Second-guessed, must have done something wrong
Maybe you never loved them all along
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
What happened to you?
Why didn’t you call?
Artist, dreamer – a masquerade ball
We waited
Watching
Did you forget us?
Did we remind you
Of what you’d lost?
Seasons gone, the earth passed the sun
Girls grown up, no longer young
Occasional visits, increasingly rare
Seeing you again – familial stranger
Your face has changed, lines grown
Someone I should know – but I don’t
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Decades went by, similar themes
Carved out a life – but not a dream
A brief reunion, our family together
Hugs, smiles – a chance to remember
We had no idea when we arrived
It would be the last time we’d see you alive
I was in my living room when I got the call
You’d died in the night – maybe a fall
In hindsight, I learned
When your mate died, your life turned
Every night after a trip to the bar
Cinnamon whiskey – never too far
Nonsense talk
Slurred calls
Inevitability
Lost your job
You were a liability
Called my mom – she didn’t pick up
You fell asleep
But never woke up
Soulful poet
Sensitive artist
So much promise
A living magnet
Cinnamon whiskey
Pushed it away
The brief brilliant light
Of a nearly lived life
Oooh
Oooh
© 2026 Melissa Bianco. All rights reserved.
