I watch my boys playing in the backyard
They’re slaying dragons, swinging plastic swords in the brush
The little one is steady, trying to act hard
His older brother doesn’t seem to notice it much
I never noticed feeling like a hero
I don’t remember if you looked at me like that
And you could figure, what the hell did we know
But you should’ve been the greatest friend I ever had

My brother - I don’t know what I’d do
To get back there, my brother, and to be a gang of two
But IOU

A couple years apart and school’s a nightmare
And I was focused on a girl and on my band
I could’ve helped you get them out of your hair
But I was young and I just didn’t understand

My brother - what was I supposed to do?
Were you lonely my brother? Did I make it harder too?
Well IOU

It shouldn’t be another job for children
To have another human being’s heart to protect
You gotta know that every moment matters
That’s something you don’t really see until you reflect
And now we’re separated by an ocean
And even growing up doesn’t look like we thought
But lately I’ve been chewing on the notion
I really wish that I’d have fought

Made a showing, my brother, of my love and gratitude
My only, my brother, I don’t know what to do
But IOU