Thread by @Dylanxious

The story of Ethel Cain, from Ethel Cain's concept album "Preacher's Daughter".
A thread.

Family Tree (Intro) sets the stage for the story of Ethel Cain. Set in 1991, the album details the character’s troubled relationship with religion, her old flame, her father (the titular preacher, a beloved member of the community), and her eventual kidnapping and murder.

American Teenager - This song is an expression of Ethel's frustration with all the things the ‘American Teenager’ is supposed to be but never had any real chance of becoming.”

A House In Nebraska - Ethel thinks of her ex-lover, who left town before the events of the album. She remembers the good times they shared. She visits the abandoned house they would spend time in, imagining it was their own, somewhere far away from their hometown of Shady Grove.

Western Nights tells the story of Ethel and her new man, Logan Phelps. Logan is less than kind, at times violent, but Ethel finds herself hopelessly in love with him despite his faults.

Family Tree - After the death of her boyfriend Logan in a police shootout following a bank robbery, Ethel finds herself on the run from the cops.

Hard Times - Closing out Act One of the album, Hard Times sees Ethel reflecting on the sexual abuse she endured from her father when she was a child, and the complicated feelings she has in regards to him.

Throughfare - Act Two of the album. Ethel, having run away from home, meets charming Isaiah, who offers her a ride. Together, they drive from Texas to California. Over the course of their trip, they find themselves attracted to each other.

Gibson Girl - After Ethel arrives in California with Isaiah, he begins to pimp her out in the back of strip clubs and feed her drugs on the regular. Ethel begins to lose sense of reality.

Ptolemaea - Under the influence of Isaiah’s drugs, Ethel begins to hallucinate. She confronts the darkness.

August Underground - Ethel desperately tries to escape Isaiah, who chases her into the woods. He eventually catches her, murdering her.

Televangelism - Ethel’s death and ascension to Heaven.

Sun Bleached Flies - In Heaven, Ethel makes peace with her death, and reflects on her life, her family, and the man she never stopped loving, Willoughby.

Strangers - Murdered and cannibalized by Isaiah, Ethel says her final goodbye to her mother from beyond the grave.