Discover the story of the song > Family and Genus – Shakey Graves

The protagonist is asking if his partner would call out to him if they saw him passing by. He then talks about feeling abandoned by their friends and family, and how they wait for them to either die or become useful to them. The lyrics also mention a bad summer and losing loved ones to fame or fancy people. Ultimately, the song seems to be about loneliness and the struggle to maintain connections in life.