The Killigans formed in late 2004 and have gone through several personnel and instrumentation changes. The band has always strived to create a better band dynamic both on and off the stage. The core members include Brad Hoffman on vocals, the three Nebesniak brothers, and Ben Swift on drums.
The Letter
The Killigans Lyrics
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Not since the day we first stepped off the boat
At a place called New York, Late in the spring
The start of the ending of everything
Sold my father’s gold watch, caught a train headed west
With the promise our destiny was manifest
Just we two going through territory unknown
The land was ours, sort of felt odd
Breaking our backs while we were breaking the sod
And the summer was bad, winter was worse
Building our dreams but pneumonia struck first
In her bed, near to death, she looked radiant still
“Don’t cry for me boy, for you know it’s God’s will.
Just hold now my hand, let me look in your eyes,
You’re the last thing I’ll see as I die.”
So I buried my heart with her in the ground
And what I have lost can never be found
Bottle in hand I’m spiraling down
Loraine come back to me, Loraine come back to me
Loraine I am broken, I pray that you’ll come back to me
Hope this finds you well, it’s spring once again
The birds have returned and the crops are all in
And the shadow has passed, but the fire remains
I know that I live cuz I still feel the pain
A young apple tree burst into bloom just today
On the spot where my lover lies resting away
And it makes me feel week and makes me feel strong
And I know my Loraine still lives on
The Killigans' song "The Letter" is a heartbreaking story of loss and grief, told through the perspective of a man who has lost the love of his life. The song is structured as a letter to his lost love, Loraine, updating her on his life and his feelings since she has passed away. The first verse describes their arrival in New York after leaving Europe, with the promise of a better life and a shared destiny. However, their dreams are shattered by the harsh realities of building a new life in America, and Loraine falls ill and dies. The singer is left alone, lost and broken, with nothing but memories of their shared dreams.
The second verse is a reflection on how life has moved on since Loraine's death. The singer acknowledges the passing of time and the new growth of nature around him, but he is still consumed by grief and the pain of his loss. He finds comfort in the fact that a young apple tree has blossomed at her resting place, a symbol of life continuing on, but he is still struggling to come to terms with his loss.
The use of vivid imagery in the song – from the boat they arrived on to the apple tree blossoming – creates a powerful sense of presence and emotion. The lyrics are simple yet evocative, capturing the singer's sense of loss and loneliness. They demonstrate the impact that losing someone you love deeply can have on a person's entire life.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s been two years since I last wrote
It's been a long time since I last communicated with you
Not since the day we first stepped off the boat
I haven't talked to you since we first arrived in New York
At a place called New York, Late in the spring
We arrived in New York in the springtime
The start of the ending of everything
It marked the beginning of the end of everything
Sold my father’s gold watch, caught a train headed west
I sold my father's gold watch and took a train heading west
With the promise our destiny was manifest
We believed that our destiny was certain
Just we two going through territory unknown
We were together, exploring uncharted territory
But it was better than being alone
Being together was better than being alone
The land was ours, sort of felt odd
We owned the land, but it felt strange
Breaking our backs while we were breaking the sod
We worked hard, tilling and farming the land
And the summer was bad, winter was worse
Summer was difficult, but winter was even worse
Building our dreams but pneumonia struck first
We were pursuing our dreams, but pneumonia struck us first
In her bed, near to death, she looked radiant still
She was near death, but she still looked beautiful
“Don’t cry for me boy, for you know it’s God’s will.
She asked me not to cry because it was God's will
Just hold now my hand, let me look in your eyes,
She wanted me to hold her hand and look her in the eyes
You’re the last thing I’ll see as I die.”
I was the last thing she saw before she died
So I buried my heart with her in the ground
I buried my emotions with her when I buried her
And what I have lost can never be found
I lost something that I can never get back
Bottle in hand I’m spiraling down
I'm spiraling out of control, with a bottle in my hand
Loraine come back to me, Loraine come back to me
I'm calling out to Loraine, asking her to come back to me
Loraine I am broken, I pray that you’ll come back to me
I'm admitting that I'm broken and praying for her return
Hope this finds you well, it’s spring once again
I hope this letter finds you in good health, it's springtime
The birds have returned and the crops are all in
The birds have come back and the crops have been harvested
And the shadow has passed, but the fire remains
The darkness has gone, but the pain lingers
I know that I live cuz I still feel the pain
I'm still alive because I still feel the pain of losing her
A young apple tree burst into bloom just today
Today, a young apple tree blossomed
On the spot where my lover lies resting away
The tree grew where Loraine is resting
And it makes me feel week and makes me feel strong
It brings me both weakness and strength
And I know my Loraine still lives on
I know that Loraine's spirit is still alive
Writer(s): Wayne Carson Thompson Copyright: Bike Music O.B.O. Lovolar Music, Bike Music O.B.O. Budde Songs Inc.
Contributed by Matthew E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.