12 Mile

Lyrics and music by Alex Waters

 

Yeah!

 

At the end of the trail, you’re still you

Now staggering under the load

All your bottles and burdens and half-truths

Pulled the marrow straight out of the bone

 

So you go

Pushing!

Breaking!

Fading!

Killing time!

 

You can run from me,

But you cannot run from yourself

 

Twelve miles later, you reappear,

Ash and dust on your soul

The mountain has taught you nothing, dear,

Except how to die on your own

 

You’re so cold when you’re sober,

Cut the deck, pull The Tower

Divination and closure

Now it’s over!

 

You can run from me,

But you cannot run from yourself

You can run from me,

But you cannot run from yourself

 

You confuse me,

Bruise me,

Terrify me

 

You can’t hear me,

Reach me,

Or ever be clean

By yourself!

 

Now that you’ve run from me,

I cannot save you, I cannot help

Now that you think you’re free,

You cannot run from yourself

From yourself!

Case File: HF01

The accusatory lyricism that Circa 1996 began to develop with "Loving the Leech" made its next evolution on this outing, with scathing and personal attacks levied on the songs's subject. Alcoholism, domestic violence, and abandonment all appear as themes, with Waters' emphatic vocal performance bordering on manic by the final lines.

Tarot imagery returns in this one, with "The Tower" card mentioned -- said to predict "sudden upheaval," surprise changes of circumstance, and if pulled in reverse, to signify a crisis that has been avoided.

Status: Canonical

Origin: October 2025

See also: "Loving the Leech," Tower card in tarot

Next File: "Revolving Door"