© Maria Dunn, 2023

Arranged M. Dunn, S. McDade

With gratitude to people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton who shared their stories with Eric Rice, resulting in a powerful video entitled: This is Where We Live. One interviewee shared that her psychiatrist told her: "No Sandra, we haven't invented a pill for a broken heart. If we could invent one of those, we could solve a lot of this, because that's what they're dealing with is broken hearts."

A person is more vulnerable to being unhoused if, as a child, they experienced neglect, parents with addiction issues, domestic violence, abuse or being in foster care (housing researcher Nick Falvo, 2022, Introduction to homelessness in high-income countries: An open access e-textbook at nickfalvo.ca).

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I don't need a pill to get me high or one to bring me down

I just need a pill for a broken heart

Oh, I need one now

When I was young there was no one to take the sticks and stones

In foster care from here to there ‘til I was mostly grown

And then the system said goodbye, good luck, you're on your own

When you never felt you belonged, it's hard to make a home

Or is it a pill for a frozen heart who holds the public purse?

Who can't imagine how the poor could be of their concern

No one would choose to be out here, and if you think they would

May you never know the loss they've known, may you only know the good

I once was told if I believed, mercy would be mine

It seems no matter where I seek, hardship is all I find

If I could stay in just one room—safe, warm and dry

Kind folks around to help me through—again, I know I’ll try

Maria Dunn  vocal, acoustic guitar

Jeff Bradshaw  steel guitar

Dawn Cross  harmony vocal

Dana Wylie harmony vocal

Solon McDade  upright bass