Plunge into the raw sorrow of Janie, a devastating opener from Ethel Cain’s sophomore album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, released on August 8, 2025 under Daughters of Cain Records. This slowcore Southern Gothic ballad, steeped in aching vocals and sparse, haunting instrumentation, captures the pain of a fading friendship through lyrics like “Please don’t leave me / I’ll always need more / She was my girl first.” Unlike the primal fury of Two-Headed Mother or the punishing intensity of Punish from Preacher’s Daughter, or the stark instrumental grief of Televangelism, Janie weaves a tender yet crushing tale of loyalty and loss in 1986 Shady Grove, Alabama.
As a prequel to her 2022 debut Preacher’s Daughter, this album explores Ethel’s teenage years in the fictional Shady Grove, Alabama, focusing on her first love, Willoughby Tucker, and the emotional scars that shape her. Fans on X have been buzzing about Janie, calling it “devastatingly beautiful” and “a knife to the heart.” The song, with its sparse, haunting production and Ethel’s raw, trembling vocals, feels like a diary entry set to music. Dive into Janie lyrics by Ethel Cain and experience the magic of emotion.
| Lead Vocals | Ethel Cain |
| Songwriter | Ethel Cain & Matthew Tomasi |
| Composer & Background Vocals | Ethel Cain & Matthew Tomasi |
| Music Producer | Ethel Cain |
| Label | Daughters of Cain Records |
| Release Date | August 8, 2025 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | Daughters of Cain Records |
Lyrics of Janie by Ethel Cain
[Verse 1]
Hold Me, Smell Of Mildew
I Wanna Die In This Room
I Still Shake
Just By Nature
Easy To Hate, Easy To Blame
Shoot Me Down
Come On, Hurt Me
I’m Wide Open And Deserving
[Chorus]
Please Don’t Leave Me
I’ll Always Need More
Please Leave Open Your Most Quiet Door
I Know She’s Your Girl Now
But She Was My Girl First
She Was My Girl First
[Bridge]
I Can See The End In The Beginning Of Everything
And In It, You Don’t Want Me
But I Still Play Pretend Like I Won’t Watch You Leaving
I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You
I Will Always
[Verse 2]
It’s Not Looking Good
But Did It Ever?
Low Stakes, Low Faith
But I Will Wait
I Will Wait
I Will Wait
I Will Wait
[Chorus]
You’ll Keep Changing
I Will Stay The Same
And Turn The Page
To Find It Blank
Except For My Last Name
I Know You Love Her
But She Was My Sister First
Frequently Asked Questions
