Title here
Summary here
Elle Moon
Family Obligations
Lyrics
Family Obligations
Daddy was a poor man
Living in a strange land,
With four of his children.
Mommy was a rich girl,
She could’ve had the whole world,
But her heart was broken.
At twenty three,
She got married
To a man she knew
She didn’t need,
And she said to me
That she knew
She’d never be
Truly happy.
It’s what she said to me.
But she had family obligations,
Family obligations,
Everything she did,
She did for them
And all her family obligations,
Family obligations.
It’s what she said,
It’s what she said.
Family obligations,
Family obligations.
It’s what she said.
But she never loved him, no,
Or let him go,
Because of family obligations,
Family obligations,
Family obligations,
Family obligations,
Family obligations.
It’s what she said.
Six years passed by,
And she couldn’t try
To fake a smile,
Or stay the night.
She checked that mark,
Opened up her heart,
He left that spark
And she couldn’t stop.
One day he walked in,
And he saw something
Brewing beneath his skin,
And he knew right then
That he’d never win.
No, he knew right then,
That he’d never win.
But he had family obligations,
Family obligations,
Everything he did,
He did for them,
And all those family obligations,
Family obligations,
It’s what he said,
It’s what he said.
Family obligations,
Family obligations.
It’s what he said.
But he’d win,
Cause she never loved him.
It’s what he said.
And I saw you
In a crowded room,
And, yes, I knew
That only you’d
Break my heart in two,
But I let you,
Cause I loved you.
You loved me, too,
And we were fine.
You swore you mine,
But you were never mine.
Cause of family obligations,
Family obligations:
You had them so,
Family obligations,
Family obligations,
(Gotta let her go.)
Family obligations,
(So I let you go.)
Cause of family obligations.
It’s what you said,
It’s what you said.
Cause of family obligations,
Got your family obligations,
Family obligations,
Got those family obligations,
Family obligations.
It’s what you said,
It’s what you said.
So you married him.
It’s what you did,
Cause of family obligations.
About the Song
Family Obligations is one of my favorite songs from my upcoming sophomore album, Bonnie & Hyde. It’s a song that I composed, wrote, and sang as a means of exploring my fragmented understanding of what love is and what people are willing to do, or give up, in order to appease their familial obligations. This song tells the story of my parents’ arranged marriage, their unhappiness throughout the relationship, and their subsequent divorce, which shaped my definition of love and marriage. Coming from a broken home made it difficult for me to believe in true love, as I had no real examples of it growing up. Moreover, growing up in the Middle East as a closeted bisexual woman, who struggled with her sexuality for decades before finally accepting herself, made my journey through love a lot more difficult. I didn’t how to show or embrace love when it presented itself to me.
The song’s ending ties into my former relationship with my ex-girlfriend who ended our relationship due to her powerful Arab family finding out about us. My first love became my first tragedy, as her parents forced her to distance herself from me when they feared her sexuality. Our on and off relationship ended when she was forced to move back to the Middle East so she could be married off to a man. For years, I was unable to move past this traumatic experience, as I desperately wanted to believe in true love beating the odds, but today I’m at a place in my life where I can finally let go of the pain and the love I once clung to. And I’m happy to say that in spite of the fact that this relationship ended so badly, it gave me the courage to come out to my parents and family, and has helped me remain authentic and open about who I am today.
About the Artist
Elle Moon is a queer Arab-American singer, songwriter, and producer. She composes and performs all of her own music, and self-finances and produces all aspects of her music videos. She’s represented by her independent record label, Moon Scope Records. Her debut album, Purple Skies, is available on all streaming platforms. Find her on YouTube _@ellemoonmusic.
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Dana Kinsey