Sister On Trial

Brian Joseph

I first heard this song at a house concert in Rockville, MD. Brian Joseph was performing at the neighbors, Scott and Paula Moore, Moore Music house concert that they hosted every month. It so happened that it coincided with my spring break my freshman year at Shepherd College. I went to the house concert with my parents and my sister Rebecca who was also home for the same weekend that I was. Prior to going the house concert I had confessed to my sister some feelings I had been having of depression, though I assured her it wasn’t anything to where I was seriously depressed, I had just been going through a small period where I had been feeling kind of down and out though I wasn’t exactly sure why. I was just trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing and I think mainly I was just scared. Anyway, that night we went to this house concert and when Brian Joseph sung this song, it hit me like a ton of bricks. When he sung the last verse, my sister looked at me, and I looked at her and we both smiled and stifled a smirk. I knew what she was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing myself. I was that sister on trial. If ever a song could be sung to paint a portrait of my family and my position in it growing up, this would be the one. The verse that says “when I get up to testify on my own behalf, and tell all the truths I have always known everyone starts to laugh”, describes how it is for me when I try to be serious about something, or try to voice a concern. Generally, whenever I have tried to do this, I have gotten literally laughed at. I know it isn’t because my family (or husband, even) is trying to be mean or condescending, I suppose it’s just that it comes across as so contrary to my personality or nature, that I come across more as “cute” than as serious. Frustrating, but at the same time understandable I guess…

They never took her away with her hands in cuffs
They never read her her rights
And she never had to sit on the witness stand to defend her life
And I wouldn’t claim that I could explain
My sister’s crime
But she says she’s on trial in the courtroom in her mind

It’s kinda like a family reunion she says, all of the family is there
Dad is the bailiff, but he’s fallin’ asleep in the bailiff’s chair
And there’s lots of waiting and I get scared and then we all stand
And mom comes in with a gavel in her hand

True, there have been days of hiding
But who doesn’t have secrets in their heart
Once in awhile?
Sister, sister on trial

She says when I get up to testify on my own behalf
And tell all the truths I have always known, everyone starts to laugh
And the judge doesn’t pay attention, she just polishes my P.H.D.
And the bailiff sleeps through everything and I can never leave

True, there have been days of hiding
But who doesn’t have secrets in their heart
Once in awhile?
Sister, sister on trial

After she told me this story I looked at my sister for awhile
And I said, how does it end, what happens in the trial?
She said the scariest part of the whole damn thing
Just between me and you
Is they’ll always find me guilty, cause I’m the jury too

Long ago when we were kids and I’d be making waves
My sister was a good girl, she knew how to behave
And I would always find myself in trouble of every kind
But I never knew she was the one on trial in her mind

True, there have been days of hiding
But who doesn’t have secrets in their hearts
Once in awhile?
Sister, sister on trial
Oh, sister.