Twin Pains: The Backstory
Every song has a story. The origin of “Twin Pains” was waiting for my flight at the Phoenix airport and reading an article about a person who lost two close relatives in the same tragedy. This person said that the grief was different for each one. I reflected on the death of my own parents and decided to write a song a
FROM SPEAKING TO REAL DIALOGUE
I have written and professionally produced several songs (leavingmeinpieces.com, goingbrokesavingmoney.com, and onebootoff.com).
My latest song is titled, "Twin Pains." Anyone who has lost loved ones will relate to the heartfelt lyrics.
I hope it ministers to you.
~ Dr. Philip William Calvert
*Note to artists and worship teams: I produced this version is show the potential of the song. If you would like to record it, contact me at phil@shapedbygrace.org
"Twin Pains"official Lyrics
Philip William Calvert
© 2026
*Verse 1*
There’s a jon boat sittin’ lonely in the side yard,
Paint’s all peeled and the motor won’t start.
Rod and reel still leans by the front door,
Like he’s comin’ back to grab ‘ it once more.
Coffee’s black and the sky’s turnin’ gray,
He used to say, “Boy, let’s go, dawn don’t wait.”
The muddy river’s runnin’ but I’m standin’ still,
A deep kind of hurt I can’t outrun or kill.
*Chorus*
It’s a twin kind of pain, that cuts two different ways,
Same hole in my heart, but it don’t ache the same.
One’s a river flowin’ silent, one’s a fire burnin’ low,
One I’m chasin’ down memories, one I just won’t let go.
Yeah, losin’ them both ain’t a one-size hurt,
It’s two shadows walkin’ on the back forty dirt.
Every step I take, I’m caught between,
Those twin pains that won’t stop hauntin’ me.
*Verse 2*
There’s a chair still turned toward the outdoor light,
Where she’d sit every mornin’, every night.
Bible worn with her notes on the side,
Pages soft from the tears she cried.
That quilt she made still comforts the fam’ly,
Stitched a faithful prayer in every seam.
House is quiet, but I swear she’s here still,
Like a summer breeze hummin’ through the windowsill.
*Chorus*
It’s a twin kind of pain, that cuts two different ways,
Same hole in my heart, but it don’t ache the same.
One’s a river flowin’ silent, one’s a fire burnin’ low,
One I’m chasin’ down memories, one I just won’t let go.
Yeah, losin’ them both ain’t a one-size hurt,
It’s two shadows walkin’ on the back forty dirt.
Every step I take, I’m caught between,
Those twin pains that won’t stop hauntin’ me.
*Bridge*
I can still smell the river on his old denim coat,
Hear her whisperin’ Scripture like a lifeline of hope.
He taught me to cast, she taught me to pray,
Now I’m holdin’ both lessons just to make it through the day.
One showed me how to live,
And how to give.
One showed me how to love,
And how to look above.
*Verse 4
It’s a twin kind of pain that don’t play fair,
One’s at the water, one’s in that chair.
One pulls me outward where the wild things run,
One pulls me inward to the risen Son.
Yeah, I buried my roots deep in that two-soul grave,
But I stand on the faith that my mama gave.
Hear my daddy in the wind and the breeze,
Through these twin pains, she’s still prayin’, he’s still fishin’ with me.
*Outro Chorus*
It’s a twin kind of pain, that cuts two different ways,
Same hole in my heart, but it don’t ache the same.
One’s a river flowin’ silent, one’s a fire burnin’ low,
One I’m chasin’ down memories, one I just won’t let go.
Yeah, losin’ them both ain’t a one-size hurt,
It’s two shadows walkin’ on the back forty dirt.
Every step I take, I’m caught between,
Those twin pains that won’t stop hauntin’ me.
*Outro*
Boat still yearns for the waterline’s bend,
Quilt still warms like her arms again.
Two kinds of hurt, but I finally see,
It ain’t just pain.
It’s what’s left of their love in me.