Little Richie

How can we know love
 When we were never shown it?
 Little Richie was the runt of the litter
 Given a thick hide by father and brothers
 Identified more with his sisters and mother
 Always felt a bit different from the others
 A loving marriage from the outside
 But, oh, how ferociously he'd hit her
 Richie stood by the bleach-white bedside
 Ma held his face in her hands while he cried
 "Hush, now, precious lamb, everything will be alright
 I know how it looks, but I swear he's a good man
 Oh baby, God has a much bigger plan
 I have my family, I have my health
 And I'm quite content with that"
 How can you say this time that it will be alright?
 How can you still look in his eyes and see the love of your life?
 He works all things for good
 In the end, it's love that wins
 In the end, it is love
 In the end, it is love, oh
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 Love was his inclination
 Belief, his dearest passion
 A beautiful escape from resentment
 Fear of the next crushing blow
 How can we know love
 When we were never shown it?
 (How can we know love) he'd wait on his lonesome
 For that blue hair in her station wagon (when we were never shown it?)
 Attending those Baptist services alone
 In the house of the Lord, he found purpose and a home
 Richie stood on a chair, peeked over the pulpit
 Reminded himself and the beloved
 Not lacking in youthful wit
 "This is what's promised"
 He works all things for good
 In the end, it's love that wins
 How are we to know how to love
 When every attempt is met with the back of a hand?
 It would only be love to mend the damned
 Who never grew to know compassion
 Just another unfortunate, beaten senseless by his old man
 How can you say this time that it will be alright?
 How can you still look in his eyes and see the love of your life?
 He works all things for good
 In the end, it's love that wins
 (How can we know love) an heirloom
 Passed down before its day (when we were never shown it?)
 Legacy came (how can we know love)
 Violently to rip innocence away (when we were never shown it?)