Former members include Derek Webb (guitar, vocals; left the band in 2003 to pursue a solo career), Aaron Tate (songwriting duties), Aric Nitzberg (bass guitar), and Randy Holsapple (hammond organ).
Recently Derek Webb rejoined the band.
Family
Caedmon's Call Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His soles are worn down to the skin
He’s got the scars of a heartache
So you can see everywhere he’s been
And where he was he was the only one
So he went looking for his mother’s son
It takes me to a new place
When my family surrounds me now
You see it on my face
But his own people didn’t know him
They couldn’t take the bad with the good
There’s just so much he couldn’t show them
It left him sneaking ‘round the neighborhood
He just wanted to be known and loved
And sometimes flesh and blood is not enough
Who’s my sister, who’s my brother
Who’s my father, who is my mother
Those who I cannot sell anything
Those who cannot buy my love
The song "Family" by Caedmon's Call is a powerful ballad that expresses the universal longing for love, family, and acceptance. The song tells the story of a man who is struggling to find a sense of belonging and connection in his life. He's been on the run from a bad break and is in search of his mother's son. The man has been scarred by heartache, and the scars are visible everywhere he's been. The lyrics suggest that he has been traveling alone for some time and has been searching for a place where he feels at home.
The song goes on to describe how the man has been let down by his own people, who couldn't take the bad with the good. The lyrics suggest that he has been sneaking around the neighborhood, looking for a sense of community and belonging. The man just wants to be known and loved, but sometimes, flesh and blood are not enough.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take a philosophical turn, asking the existential question of who is family. It's not just about blood relations, but it's about those who cannot sell anything, and those who cannot buy your love. The song ends with an optimistic note, encapsulated in the line "When my family surrounds me now, you see it on my face." The song emphasizes the importance of finding a loving and accepting community that gives a sense of belonging and purpose to one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
He’s on the run from a bad break
He's trying to escape the emotional pain from a bad experience
His soles are worn down to the skin
He's been through a lot, his feet bear witness to the journey he's been on
He’s got the scars of a heartache
His emotional trauma has left visible marks on him
So you can see everywhere he’s been
His experiences have become a part of who he is, visible to all
And where he was he was the only one
He felt isolated and alone wherever he was
So he went looking for his mother’s son
He sought out a familial connection to find a sense of belonging
And with my family around me now
Being with his chosen family is transformative for him
It takes me to a new place
Being with his family gives him a sense of change and renewal
When my family surrounds me now
Being with his family is a source of comfort and joy
You see it on my face
His emotions are written all over his face when he's with his family
But his own people didn’t know him
His blood relatives failed to understand and accept him
They couldn’t take the bad with the good
His family couldn't handle his flaws and imperfections along with his strengths and positive qualities
There’s just so much he couldn’t show them
He couldn't reveal certain aspects of himself to his family
It left him sneaking ‘round the neighborhood
He felt compelled to hide parts of himself from his family and resort to secretive behavior
He just wanted to be known and loved
At his core, he longed for acceptance and affection
And sometimes flesh and blood is not enough
Being related by blood doesn't necessarily equate to a deep, meaningful relationship
Who’s my sister, who’s my brother
He questions the meaning of familial relationships when they fail to provide the connection he craves
Who’s my father, who is my mother
Even his own parents fail to fill his need for acceptance and belonging
Those who I cannot sell anything
True relationships aren't transactional or based on what one can give or receive
Those who cannot buy my love
Love cannot be bought, it must be freely given from the heart
Contributed by Julia P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.