Eighteen years old, full of hate
They shipped me off in a motorcade
They said, “Boy, you’re gonna fight a war
You don’t even know what you’re fighting for.”
I lost friends in the August heat
At night it was God I’d always meet
I said, “Lord, won’t you bring me home
I’ve got women in the west I wanna hold.”
And I lost you in a waiting room
After sleeping there for a week or two
Doctor said he did all he could
You were the last thing I had that was good
So I walked miles on the Tulsa streets
Light started beaming in from the east
6 AM and fucked up again
Asking God where the hell he’d been
He said the sun’s gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
You better pack your bags west
Stick out your chest
And then hit the road
The sun’s gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
Don’t give it a reason to follow
Let it be, then let it go
Let it be, then let it go
Heard your brother lost his mind in the city last fall
Was it his blood, or his conscious, or the alcohol
Did the navy do him well or did he wind up sick
Like every other brave boy from these run down sticks?
Do you ever get tired of singing songs
Like all your pain is just another fucking sing along?
If you ever get the time come on home
I heard turnpikes back together and they’re writing songs
He said the sun’s gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
You better pack your bags west
Stick out your chest
And then hit the road
The sun’s gonna rise tomorrow
Somewhere on the east side of sorrow
Don’t give it a reason to follow
Let it be, then let it go
Let it be, then let it go
Reflections on Loss and Resilience
“East Side Of Sorrow” by Zach Bryan is a raw and poignant exploration of loss, trauma, and the struggle to move forward. The song opens with vivid recollections of a young man’s deployment and the emotional scars left by war. Bryan’s writing captures the weight of grief, from losing friends on the battlefield to a loved one in a hospital waiting room. These verses highlight how pain lingers, shaping the paths we walk and the prayers we whisper in the dark.
The Hope of a New Dawn
Despite the heartache, the recurring motif of the rising sun serves as a symbol of hope and renewal. The chorus encourages listeners to leave sorrow behind and embrace the possibility of healing. Bryan’s storytelling is deeply personal, yet universally relatable—the burdens of the past are heavy, but the promise of tomorrow brings solace and strength.
Song Credits
Songwriter: Zach Bryan
Release Year: 2024