I had a brother who was everything to me.

He was my guarding angel and protector, you see

As far back as I can remember, he took care of me

He brushed my hair and washed my face

Held me close to keep me safe

At night he would rock me to sleep

To make the demons go away into the deep

He played a guitar and sang country songs

Why he even gave me a juice harp so I could play along

The tunes that he played would be happy or sad

The ones that put your feet to tapping really made me glad

My other brother, Clyde, learned to play the guitar, too

When they started to play and sing

The whole family would gather round

We would all join in to make a joyful sound

 

When I was six and walking to school

He brought me a rain coat with a hood of blue

My feet would get wet, so he bought me galoshes, too

He loved to play jokes, and then laugh with glee

When the surprise on my face he would see

Knowing he had tricked me once again

That was alright because we were kin

 

He loved me just because I was me

I was a girl, but that didn't brother him, you see

I was his sister, the only one he had

and he would cheer me up when I was sad

He would stand in between dad and the rest of us

Because sometimes dad would drink and cuss

 

One day the picture man came to town

And he dressed me up and sat me in a chair

I still have the picture were I looked so young and fair

He loved to look out the window and see a red bird sitting in a tree

Sometimes he would dream of going far away and out to sea

 

His love surrounded me in so many ways

Years and months and many days

He would reach out his hand and walk by my side

And protect me from harm so I wouldn't cry

All through the years the bond secured

The love between brother and sister was pure

 

We had to face parting with his eyes full of tears

To all the family he was so dear

He was only forty three when they told us the news

He was very sick with cancer and dying,

My heart broke, I couldn't stop crying

We held hands to the last, talking about the good times in the past

He left to go to heaven, so peaceful and quiet

It was like the angels just lifted him up out of sight

 

Today I feel his love and can hear him say,

"I'll take care of you until I see you one fine day

We will be together in heaven, I pray"

"So take care little sis, and comb that hair

Like I showed you to when I sat you in that chair"

" I will play the guitar and sing you a song

Because here no can do any wrong"

We will walk together on the streets of gold, my brother and I

We will sing and shout and give a heavenly cry

The tears that we shed on this earth will be dried

We will spend eternity praising God

Me, Raymond, and Clyde