I tried to be the one that everybody loved
Where has that gotten me?
I tear myself to shreds to prove that I'm someone
That I could never be

Now these unsightly marks define me

[Chorus]
So help me, please someone come quick
I think I am losing it
Forgive me, I inherited this
From a stranger I'll never miss
I'm sick.

My father taught me first hand how to be set free
Give up and runaway
I wish I could drain out his half of blood in me
But I'd still have his face

I curse reflections everyday

[Chorus]

Here is my own family tradition
Following footsteps into addiction
So is there a way that I can find peace
While still numbing my pain
Is this my fate?
Cause your only son still cant seem to find his way

[Chorus]

So father where the hell are you now?
I think that you would be proud
Your son who so unluckily
Fell right next to the tree

I hope you're proud of me,
I hope you're proud.



Lyrics submitted by benjy

Track duration: 03:34

"Family Tradition" as written by Brian Mcternan, James Buddy Nielsen, Daniel Gerard Trapp, Garrett Michael Zablocki, Heath Matthew Saraceno, Jason Black

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Family Tradition song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment:This is such an amazing song.
    Flag tysheehanon November 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:You guys missed the references to addiction/alcoholism all over this damn album eh? He doesn't want to repeat the addictions of his family.. I guess you could read really deeply into it and find some even more emo "this song so relates to me" meaning but..

    "Here is my own family tradition
    Following footsteps into addiction
    So is there a way, that I can find peace while still marrying my pain
    Is this my fate,
    cuz your only son still can't seem to find his way"

    Flag Npakadermon April 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He doesn't want to follow a predetermined course such as "genes" and particularly his father's ways of handling stress.
    Flag magnum69on March 17, 2009   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning:Sounds a lot to me like Alcoholism is affecting him. Or it could be some other drug addiction that was passed down genetically. This songs makes it sound like his father ran off when he was too young to know him and then left him with nothing but some disease (alcoholism). This is why he says:
    "Forgive me I inherited this
    From a stranger I'll never miss(his dad left him with genes that are less than beneficial)
    I'm sick(alcoholism)."
    so basically i guess he is scared that he is turning out like his father and really doesn't want to. He hopes that his father is proud of how he ruined his son's life.
    Idk that is just my take on it.
    Flag drowninglessons12on December 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I love this song. It's my 2nd favorite on this album next to Four Years.

    At a recent concert Buddy said pretty much the exact same thing illegalpunkrkr said. He said how it's about finding out who you are, and stopping trying to being what you think someone in your family wants you to be, and being who you want to be.

    I love this song so much. It has a really personal reflection on me, because I can relate to it a lot, especially to what Buddy said, also this line


    "My Father taught me
    Firsthand how to be set free
    Give up and run away

    I wish I could drain
    Out his half of blood in me
    But I still have his face

    I curse reflections every day"

    My birth father was a skin-head bastard, and left my mom after she found out she was pregnant. He wanted her to abort me. But the thing is, he had another girlfriend, when he got her pregnant. He's a racist asshole, and has he's hidden his identity from being found, like we can't locate him or anything. I used to want to at least know him.
    I guess according to my mom and grandma, I look physically a lot like him. But I hate having his blood.

    But yeah, this song just rocks.

    and guys, try to go to any Senses Fail concert near you, theses guys are so kickass. I've been following them since 03. They're so amazing in concert. Buddy is all crowd surfing, and he sings such a variety, I mean as a treat they played one eight seven to close the show.

    I love these guys.
    Flag haunion December 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:almost right. here are the lyrics from the book.

    i try to be the one that everybody loves
    where has that gotten me
    i tear myself to shreds to prove that I'm someone
    that I coud never be
    now these unsightly marks define me

    so help me please someone come quick
    I think i am losing it
    forgive me I inherited this
    from a stranger I'll never miss
    I'm sick

    my father taught me firsthand how to be set free
    give up and run away
    if I coud I'd drain out his half of blood in me
    but I'd still have his face
    I curse reflections every day

    this is my own family tradition
    following footsteps into addiction so
    is there a way
    that I can find peace while still numbing my pain
    is this my fate
    cause your only son still can't seem to find his way

    so father where the hell are you now
    I think that you would be proud
    of your son who so unluckily fell right next to the tree
    I hope you're proud of me

    last few lnes I liked because Lungs Like Gallows was all about his relationship with bad luck
    Flag x_no_poison_xon October 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think he's necessarily saying he wants pity because it's not his fault...

    I think what he means is that he doesn't want to be judged because of this "family tradition" that he is inevitably carrying on whether he wants to or not. He doesn't want to be this way or act this way, and he doesn't want pity for being or acting this way, but he can't help it because it's in his genes. He hates being like this family member (who we can assume is his father, as it says that right in the song) but, despite his best efforts to be someone else, he knows that's what (or who) he's becoming.
    Flag hayes02on October 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Best song on the new album. :D
    Flag Msiminaon October 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:part 4.
    One of the first changes he realises is his father.

    He hates being like him, following exaclty what his family did, this is his first major change.
    Flag Take This Chanceon October 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:THIS SONG IS GOING TO BE HUGE!

    im calling it. huge.

    To sum this song up:

    He doesnt want to be his dad. he has tried many times to get ride of everything possible to be less like him. He has tried suicide before. Buddy is confused, he just wants to be himself, not follow his family genes like his father. But its harder than he though.
    Flag Take This Chanceon September 28, 2008   Link

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