Waco, Texas (song)

**"Waco, Texas"** is an unreleased song by Ethel Cain. It is recorded for her upcoming *Preacher's Daughter* B-sides EP.

## Background and inspiration

On March 31, 2022, Ethel posted the demo version of the song on her Tumblr account. The track was also uploaded to Soundcloud, but later removed due to its possible official release. She dedicated the song to her long-lost lover, Willoughby from Ethel Cain Cinematic Universe.

In an interview with *The Line of Best Fit*, Cain revealed that she plans to release the song on an upcoming EP which would include B-sides from *Preacher's Daughter*. The length of the final version is 20 minutes.

On July 10, 2022, Ethel answered a fan's question about whether the Waco, Texas siege symbolizes something in her work and whether it has a personal meaning for her:

> "Sort of! The events of the Branch Davidians/the siege take place around the same time as Ethel’s life and death (i think the final standoff happened about two years after Ethel dies) but I always see the rise and fall as being parallel to her story. Yes, David Koresh was insane and also a pedophile so I’m not going to pretend I look up to him or something haha, but the story just always has intrigued me. As Ethel and Willoughby fall in love, they find themselves blinded to the rest of the world for a while, captivated by each other and thinking that love could keep them safe. But eventually, the real world comes knocking and everything goes up in flames. I just like the parallels of their relationship and the events of the Branch Davidians. Ethel sees him as being this beautiful, enamoring God and she’s deeply in love with him, but in the end she realizes he’s just a broken boy and they’re both too far gone. Idk, it’s just a corny little love drama that I’m way too deeply invested in and I’m drawing lines in the sand trying to pair it with a 30 year old cult siege lol. I don’t get out much!"
>
>

## Official Versions

* EP version — 20:26
* Demo version — 6:12

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

My honey’s heart is blue and a second offbeat

Always tugging at me like he’s running out of daylight

Yeah, my baby acts cool but they all know something ain’t right, ain’t right

Only acting this cool when he’s walking with me

1998 forever and a day

I keep the pictures hanging where the world can see ‘em

I hope we die today

Save me from another late night of red eyes

But then the morning comes

You were there looking for me but I

I was gone, turned my back for a moment and

You had fallen apart

[Verse 2]

They’ve been promising the lights as we beg for our lives

Selling pages of the times we’ve been waiting on

Now the weight’s too much and I can’t hold you anymore

How much of a cruel year can you call my fault?

Not even the memories are immortal

Terrified on this side of a conversation

A conversation we’ll never come back from

I’ll never live it down if I never get around it

Cause goddammit, I did it to myself in hindsight

I liked him cause his rule was do whatever you like and I tried alright

Now I’ll wear these scars for life

I loved you when it hurt inside to

But in the low light

You know I’d do anything for you

[Chorus]

You know I’d do anything for you

You know it’s true cause I’ve said it to you

Held in my arms, I swore I’d be good to you

Then sat and watched as you walked away from me

[Outro]

Christ is cruel but you're so crueler

## References

1. ↑ https://mothercain.tumblr.com/post/680299671519985664/for-willoughby-lyrics-v1-my-honeys-heart-is
2. ↑ https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/ethel-cain-artist-ghost
3. ↑ https://mothercain.tumblr.com/post/689393066894835712/does-the-waco-tx-seige-symbolize-something-in