The finale of our tale. We find our hero not where he is currently, but where his heart will always be. He is in the house that his father, a complicated man and patriarch of the family, built in Puerto Rico. Here we try to understand Tio Harold’s perspective of his home and his father.
We also find our narrator as the nephew speaking to the Tio, and as he leaves him in this song, he hopes that the Tio, our hero, understands how how much he is loved and appreciated. We hope to rebuild his image from a handicapped, helpless man to a hero, in the purest sense of the word.
lyrics
You’re by yourself
in that lonesome house
on top of the mountain
looking over the sea.
You’re talking to yourself
on the balcony.
Breathe in the ocean.
Tune into the chirping coqui.
Well there’s nothing you can say
To make your voices go away
At least you don’t feel nothing after all.
Your father’s passed.
It’s a scary thought
to know that everyone you love
will be dead and gone.
But your mother’s here.
Your sister’s here.
You’ll watch her children grow up
after all these years
There’s nothing to be said
for the breakfast and the bed.
It’s nice to know you have someone after all.
At least you know that you’re someone after all.
Your father built that house from the ground.
His hands callused by brick and tile.
You stayed there for twenty years with no sound
of anyone staying for awhile.
Your father used to beat you with a belt.
His knuckles callused and wrapped in leather.
Your sister’s body was the only armor you held.
Her soft face helped you keep it together.
Did you have anything to say
the day he passed away?
At least you know that he stayed here through it all.
Which memory will you pick?
The leather or the brick?
In the end, he still loved you after all.
Whenever you feel alone,
just remember whose hands built this home.
Your mother loves you, I hope you know
Your sister loves you, I hope you know it’s so.
At least you know you have someone after all
At least you know that we’ll stay here through it all.
At least you know that I’ve been here for it all.
I am the nephew. I have been here forever telling
This is your story, all eternal, forever lasting (We will rebuild you)
I will tell it. I will tell it. I will tell it.
And at the end I will say,
“So long, Tio Harold. You have done just fine
as a man, an uncle, un hijo. Don’t you pay no mind
to the voices in your head. There is no more to be said
for the ways that you’re my hero. I’ll see you home in time.”
credits
from Tio,
released September 8, 2017
Chris Lee-Rodriguez – Guitar, Vocals
Dylan Zobel – Bass, Vocals
Zach Sandel – Drums
Recorded and Mixed by Chris Teti at Silver Bullet Studios
Mastered by Dan Coustant at Sun Room Audio
Just inspiring combination of emo-jazz in its purest form. Lyrically it goes over interesting ideas of multiculturalism, parental issues and generational trauma in some of the best ways I've heard in a while. All of the instrumental sections are just beautiful and both singers are outstanding. My favorite moments are probably the almost-yelling section halfway through "I'm From Here" and the horn sections on "Quirk". PeterA
Taking cues from Midwestern emo and early ’10 pop punk, this Leeds, UK outfit are full of heart— not to mention hooks. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 21, 2022