Family Traditions

 

Originally recorded in 1989.
Live version recorded in June 1993.

  
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'Family Traditions' is a man that was abused by his father and he is abusing his son and passing on the Family Tradition.

This is a real early Aittala song. I wrote and record this song just a few months after having my 4-track and drum machine and getting serious about song writing. I was still very heavily influenced by Metallica at the time and it probably shows, but you have to start somewhere. The title actually came from the Hank Williams Jr song called 'Family Tradition'. But his was a country song about partying. I took the title and put the metal twist on it. What's more 80's metal than a song about abuse?
This version of the song was recorded live at a club in Holland called the SSR in June of 1993.

I want to thank you Father
For all that you’ve given me
Except the one thing
Inherited battery

I must pass on this tradition
To my son, but why?
I’ll give him the hatred and anger
It will never die

You stripped away my self-esteem
Forced me from reality
Trapped me in a world of silence
Controlled by violence

It runs through my veins
Like a raging fire
With only one thing in mind
Fulfilling this desire

I get off on the hate
It takes me to a new plane
And it takes my mind away
Inflicting misery and pain

Family Traditions
Family Traditions

Can anything be done?
To break this chain
And rid this family
Of the torture and the pain

I’m always on the edge
The slightest things just cut me loose
I can’t stop this madness
This cycle of abuse

You stripped away my self-esteem
Forced me to insanity
Cornered me in a world of silence
Controlled by violence

Now it’s all yours son
Carry out my legacy
Someday I’ll see it in you
You’ll be just like me

Family traditions passed on to you my son
Unstoppable anger, you’ll never realized until it’s done
You’ll take out frustrations on your family
You won’t be able to stop this battery