“Lucy”

September 8, 2026July 1, 2026 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

There are stories of regret, disappointment, failure, and grief every day. Most of them don’t become song lyrics unless they have something to do with Taylor Swift, though. Dealing with those issues in life can be difficult or challenging to say the least. Despite the story, how it affects an individual can vary, and the length of time it affects them. Some people, at least without help of any kind, may never totally get over the event.

One young couple’s experience did turn into a song. “Lucy” by Skillet. “Lucy” is about grief, regret, and the emotional aftermath of an abortion. John Cooper, of the group Skillet, later confirmed that the song tells the story of a young couple who chose abortion, then found themselves overwhelmed with sorrow, guilt, and the longing for the child they never got to meet.

What the song means at its core

The heart of “Lucy” is regret—the kind that lingers, reshapes you, and forces you to confront what can’t be undone. Cooper originally kept the meaning vague so listeners could apply it to any kind of loss, but the emotional DNA of the song is unmistakably tied to a couple’s abortion, the grief that followed, their attempt to find closure, naming the unborn child “Lucy.” The song is written like a letter or a graveside confession, where the narrator imagines the life Lucy might have had and expresses the pain of knowing those moments will never exist.

Themes woven through the lyrics

Irreversible loss — The narrator kneels at Lucy’s grave, symbolizing the finality of the decision.
Guilt and self‑reproach — Lines like “I can’t live with myself today” reflect the emotional weight of the choice.
Longing for redemption — The hope of seeing Lucy “in another life” points to spiritual healing and the desire for forgiveness.
Imagined future — The song paints a picture of the life they could have had, intensifying the grief.

Why the song resonates with so many

Even though the specific story is about abortion, Cooper emphasized that the emotions are universal: regret, mourning, wishing you could go back and choose differently. Many listeners connect it to miscarriages, breakups, death, or any moment where life took a turn they wish they could undo.

I’ve had at least one of those kinds of moments of deep regret. And sure enough, I’m always thinking if I could go back and take a different path. But my story goes that I didn’t. Only with God’s help have I learned to accept the facts. He has healed me of the hurt to myself, and I pray for the hurt of others who were caught up in the wake of my actions. Life goes on. You can’t stay in the same month and year in which the event came to a head. Accept God’s forgiveness and forgive yourself. Learn from it, and go and sin no more, as Jesus might say.

I’ve attached the lyrics of the song “Lucy” by Skillet if you would like to read them.

[Verse 1]
Hey, Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I’m in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
Got some things I need to say

[Chorus]
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’d give up all the world to see
That little piece of Heaven lookin’ back at me
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’ve got to live with the choices I made
And I can’t live with myself today

[Verse 2]
Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it’d bring some closure to say your name
I know I’d do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can’t help me make amends!

[Chorus]
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’d give up all the world to see
That little piece of Heaven lookin’ back at me
Now that it’s over
I just want to hold her
I’ve got to live with the choices I made
And I can’t live with myself today

Starved for God

April 22, 2017 / Mark Brady / Leave a comment

Starving man “I’m looking for the next party!” One recently shared with me. The next day I read the following scriptures from the Old Testament book of Hosea 9: 1-6 (MSG).

Don’t waste your life in wild orgies, Israel. Don’t party away your life with the heathen. You walk away from your God at the drop of a hat and like a whore sell yourself promiscuously at every sex-and-religion party on the street. All that party food won’t fill you up. You’ll end up hungrier than ever. At this rate you’ll not last long in GOD’s land: Some of you are going to end up bankrupt in Egypt. Some of you will be disillusioned in Assyria. As refugees in Egypt and Assyria, you won’t have much chance to worship GOD– Sentenced to rations of bread and water, and your souls polluted by the spirit-dirty air. You’ll be starved for GOD, exiled from GOD’s own country. Will you be homesick for the old Holy Days? Will you miss festival worship of GOD? Be warned! When you escape from the frying pan of disaster, you’ll fall into the fire of Egypt. Egypt will give you a fine funeral! What use will all your god-inspired silver be then as you eke out a living in a field of weeds?

I feel sorry for the one who spoke those words to me. Their soul will always be starving for God. They will continue striving to feed their soul with the things of this world. I did my best to share this with them, but they didn’t want to hear the message, the Truth, and we know the Truth will set them free, and satisfy their soul.

Regret?

November 13, 2016November 13, 2016 / Mark Brady / 2 Comments

(Photo by Cathy Wang)

“Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.” We’ve all heard the phrase before. I feel that phrase mostly applies to relationships. Today I was thinking about some of the closer ones I have had over the years. I know, and understand it takes two to get it right, but the one thing I have regretted over and over is when my response to the other person was less than perfect.

That lack of responding in the right, or best way has caused a lot of hurt, pain, and disappointment in some of these relationships. The moment I realize I have wounded the other person is when regret starts to set in.

In some cases there has been a huge price to pay for not responding correctly. Being very open and honest it would be easier if the other person passed on, but when they don’t you are forced to deal with the reality they don’t want to speak, or see you again, ever! This is what can happen when one chooses not to forgive you. We shouldn’t let regrets weigh us down, but rather learn from them and hope the next time we respond better.

I am so glad Jesus forgives us when our responses are less than perfect. To me, “hell” would be the reality that God turned His back on me, and never wanted to see, or hear from me again, ever!