Whirlwind from Inheritance by terrapin

- written in third person and from Tiffany and Stan’s perspectives, “Whirlwind” explores the final days of the father’s life, as his abusive behaviour pushed his daughters into plotting his murder. Set in 1986.



He wakes to discover,
His children are all gone,
It’s midday, they’re at school,
When they get back, he’ll drunk.
It’s been like this for years now,
But Tif has had enough,
She hates his constant gaze,
Now she’s twelve and a half.
Jane tells her little brothers
To go straight to their room,
Samuel sulks and Stan bunches his hand,
Punches the wall.
Tif lights up a cigarette,
Smoking in the bathroom,
There’s no lock,
4 o’clock and it’s bad news.

I don’t care (lies I tell myself)
I’m barely there (will someone help?)

I’ve been caught in your whirlwind,
And I’m always hurting,
But I can’t speak up,
Cos that ain’t an option,
And it’s not worth the cost if you even hear it.

Sam hides in her covers,
And Jane makes room for him.
She’s used to being mother,
To two of three children.
Stan leaves in the night-time,
He’s looking for trouble,
He throws a brick through his neighbour’s window.

The cops detain him (son where’s your father?)
Nobody saves him (he’s passed out, ain’t he?)

I’ve been caught in your whirlwind,
And I’m scared I deserve it,
Am I a broken child?
Will they pull the curtain?
Of nothing, I’m certain,
Except that I will die,
Caught in your whirlwind,
Father, we’re hurting,
You’re too drunk to realise.
We’re caught in your whirlwind,
The pain is unfurling,
We’re caught in your_
We’re caught in your_
We're caught in your...
Whirlwind...

I don’t care (lies I tell myself)
I’m barely there (will someone help?)
I don’t mind (Janie, something’s wrong)
I hand you the knife…

• #acoustic
• #acoustic guitar
• #indie
• #indiefolk
• #singersongwriter
• Acoustic
• United Kingdom