THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU
A Brother's Song for His Beloved Sister, Shona Donaldson
Written from the heart of George McLean
VERSE 1 — MY BELOVED SISTER
Shona Donaldson, my sister dear,
I never knew the end was near.
I came to see you when you were unwell,
Never knowing I was saying farewell.
I looked into your eyes that day,
Never dreaming you'd soon go away.
If I had known our time was through,
I'd have held you longer, my sister, dear and true.
CHORUS — I NEVER KNEW
I never knew, I never knew,
That day would be my last with you.
You said, "George, my brother, it may be the last time,
You ever see this sister of thine."
Oh, Shona, your words still break my heart,
I never imagined we'd be so far apart.
My darling sister, I miss you so,
I wasn't ready to let you go.
VERSE 2 — YOUR LAST WORDS TO ME
You looked at me and spoke so softly,
Your words still echo inside me deeply.
You said, "My brother, remember this day,
It might be the last time you see my face."
I heard your words, but I could not see
That soon your absence would break me completely.
I returned home, thinking we'd meet once more,
Then a few days later, you were gone forevermore.
CHORUS
I never knew, I never knew,
That day would be my last with you.
You said, "George, my brother, it may be the last time,
You ever see this sister of thine."
Oh, Shona, your words still break my heart,
I never imagined we'd be so far apart.
My darling sister, I miss you so,
I wasn't ready to let you go.
VERSE 3 — THE FUN WE USED TO HAVE
Oh, Shona, remember the fun we shared,
The laughter that showed how much we cared?
The little jokes and the stories we knew,
The precious moments between me and you.
Sometimes I smile when I think of those days,
Then tears start falling in so many ways.
I would give anything to hear your voice again,
And share our laughter, just once again.
VERSE 4 — THE FAMILY YOU LEFT BEHIND
You left Monique McLean, so precious and dear,
And John McLean, who wishes you were here.
Valerie McLean still carries the pain,
Wishing she could see your face again.
You left a vacuum deep in our hearts,
A painful emptiness since we had to part.
Though we cannot see you as we did before,
Our love for you will remain forevermore.
VERSE 5 — YOUR BATTLE WITH CANCER
You fought your battle with courage and grace,
But cancer brought sorrow we could not erase.
We prayed for more time, one more precious day,
Hoping that somehow you'd be able to stay.
I watched you suffer; I wished I could do more,
I never imagined I'd lose you so soon.
Though sickness took you from our sight,
Your memory remains my guiding light.
VERSE 6 — THE BATTLE YOU FOUGHT
My wife, Nancy George McLean, is writing your story,
To honour your courage, your pain, and your glory.
The Battle You Fought is the book she is writing,
A tribute to your life, your strength, and your fighting.
Though the book is unpublished, the work carries on,
We are still working on it, keeping your memory strong.
We want the world to know what you went through,
And how much, dear Shona, we truly miss you.
Your story will be told with compassion and care,
A reminder of the courage you showed while you were here.
Though we cannot bring you back, whatever we do,
This book is one way of honouring you.
BRIDGE — IF I HAD KNOWN
If I had known that day was our last,
I would have held you and made the moment last.
I would have told you what my heart could not say,
That I loved you more than words could convey.
If I could see you just one more time,
I'd tell you, Shona, you will always be mine.
Not mine to hold, but mine to remember,
My beloved sister, now and forever.
FINAL CHORUS — FOREVER WILL BE MISSED
You will forever, forever be missed,
Remembered with love, with tears, and a kiss.
Shona Donaldson, my sister dear,
Your memory will always remain near.
I never knew that goodbye was so close,
Now I miss you more than anyone knows.
Until we meet in God's heavenly light,
Rest peacefully, Shona, both day and night.
OUTRO — GEORGE'S MESSAGE TO SHONA
Shona, my sister, I wish I had known
That the last time I saw you would be the last time alone.
When you told me, "George, this might be goodbye,"
I never imagined I'd be asking God why.
I miss our laughter.
I miss our fun.
I miss my sister, my precious one.
You left a space no one else can fill,
And the love I have for you remains with me still.
My wife, Nancy George McLean, is writing The Battle You Fought in your memory. The book is not published yet; we are still working on it. We want to honour your life and remember the battle you fought.
Shona, we really miss you.
Your brother misses you.
Your family misses you.
And the love we have for you will never die.
Rest peacefully, my beloved sister, Shona Donaldson.
From your brother, George McLean, and his wife, Nancy George McLean:
Forever loved.
Forever remembered.
Forever will be missed.
Until we meet again. Amen.