John Mellencamp - Case 795 (The Family) Lyrics

Tony Jones stabbed Alice Jones
On their first anniversary down in Dallas, Texas
In a small apartment with nobody present
He pulled out a knife and he stuck it to her

He left her bleeding on the floor in the kitchen
With cake on her fingers and her wedding ring holding
In her hand was a note that said the wicked must suffer
And he drove off quickly to his girlfriend's apartment

But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family
Everything is safe here at home
Everything's all right with the family
The beds are made but there's no sheets on

From the courtroom stand Tony, said he was sorry
That he was sad and mixed up and he didn't know what he was doing
That he'd always loved Alice and he begged for forgiveness
So he threw himself on the mercy of the jury

And he told how his father had beat and abused him
Back in grade school in the basement den
And that maybe prison was the best thing for him
And he said, "Oh God, can You forgive me?" Yeah

But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us all to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family
Everything is safe here at home
Everything's all right with the family
The beds are made but there's no sheets on

How many days does it take to make us weak?
And how many hours do people spend lonely?
In the heart of the heart, the family lay dying
The ruin of a nation lies at our feet, yeah

Everything's all right with the family
Everything is safe here at home
Everything's all right with the family
The beds are made but there's no sheets on

Everything's all right with the family
Everything is safe here at home
Everything's all right with the family
The beds are made but there's no sheets on