Richie
Drawing again on his childhood, Richie is a heart-wrenching tale of Chico’s former schoolmate who committed suicide. Brutally teased and excluded, the boy decided he couldn’t take any more and hung himself with barbed wire. This song has deep emotional meaning for Chico, and is one he will not perform in public unless he feels the setting and mood is appropriate.
Written By: Chico Finn and Keith Christopher
Keith Christopher – Guitars, Drums, Keys, Vocals
Chico Finn – Vocals, Bass
Harlo Bray – Vocals
Eric Ambel – Piano, Lead Guitar
Rebecca Frame – Lead Vocals
Lyrics:
HE WAS A YEAR OR TWO OLDER BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL
HE DIDN’T REALLY FIT IN, THAT MUCH WAS TRUE
HE WAS TOO SMALL, HAD NO SKILLS FOR BALL
HE PLAYED VIOLIN IN THE ORCHESTRA
HE WAS CHASED DOWN THE HALLS, HE WAS PUNCHED AND KICKED
THE BULLIES, THEY FOUND AN EASY TARGET
RICHIE WAS WEAK AND DEFENSELESS,
A CHILD’S CRUELTY CAN BE SO SENSELESS
CHORUS
HEY RICHIE WHERE YOU GOIN’ WITH THAT WIRE AND TWINE
HE’S GOIN OUT TONIGHT TO WALK THAT LINE
IT’S NOT THE TIME OF YEAR FOR MENDING FENCES
YOU SHOULD BE OUT PLAYING, SINGING AND DANCING
GOING TO THE BARN TO DO THE CHORES
DOESN’T CARE NO MORE, BOUT HIS TEST SCORES
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET SOME RELIEF,
TO RUN AWAY FROM THIS WORLD OF GRIEF
CHORUS
WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS, I FELL STRAIGHT TO MY KNEES
HARD TO BELIEVE THIS WORLD’S CRUELTY
I CRIED LIKE HELL IN MY MOTHER’S ARMS
NOW RICHIE’S IN A PLACE THAT CAN DO HIM NO HARM
