Loudon Wainwright III All in a Family lyrics

It's all in a family, that's no lie
Even stays that way after we die
Leaves, branches, twigs on a family tree
And the forest can be hard to see

Mother and father are in charge
And the brand new baby will loom large
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts,
It's a family life, so take a chance

It's a work in progress, can't you see
And the why, wherefore, is a mystery
When the family fights they know next door
No-one wins in a family war

Then there's that thing, it's all made up
Dare we sing that the thing is not
Love heals heartache and familial pain
And what family is not insane?

Just give them all a hug and a kiss

At the wake, that wedding, birthday, bris
And the function let disfunction rule
No shallow end in the family pool

We gather for the holiday
And pray for a quick safe getaway
No-one so close, nothing so real
And the smallest thing is the biggest deal

That so-and-so did such-and-such
How can you love someone so much?
Forgive, forget, and finally see
The forest from the family tree

It's all in a family, that's no lie
It'll stay that way after we die
You forgive, forget, and finally see
When you get to hold the new baby