Part 1

Don't worry brother, my anger is for your mother.
The situation is clear, the problem is fear.
An anxiety so normal.
An anxiety so horrid.
So don't worry brother,
my anger is mother's.
Just stay a while, I need to talk,
And if you walk, I'll understand.
You may fear this shell of a man
I ask for your trust in confidence
I give you mine blindly
Please stay and listen
while I talk to your mother.

Part 2

Did you ever have to drive a tractor at four?
Did you ever have to milk cows, clean stables, feed
pigs and kill chickens at nine?
Were you ever tired and drained,
terrorized and chained at ten?
Were you ever promised death should you not listen?
Did you ever love your mother or,
were you too scared to hate her?
        Don't cry for her brother,
        She's dead and almost gone

Part 3

Did you ever do drugs by eleven?
Did you ever act smart when deep inside there was fear of ridicule?
Did you ever punch first when otherwise you knew she'd beat you?
Did you ever light a smoke to cover your fears?
Did you ever build an image?
Did you ever act tough?
        Were you too proud to admit it?
Were you too scared to change it?

Part 4

Did you ever meet a girl who cared for you?
Did it feel new?
And did you feel a sense of nobility when suddenly you were noticed by family?
And weren't you a little bit guilty when they scolded your image?
Ha, Ha, Ha...but they care.
Did you marry by seventeen?
Have three children by twenty?
Did you ever make a mistake?
Were you too proud to admit it?
Were you too scared to change it?

Part 5

Did you ever take a job in the army?
And did it feel a little bit scary to stand in line for Sergeant Mother?
And how can you talk to Private Brother?
Did you follow another man's dream?
And, did it really become yours?
Were you too proud to admit it?
Were you too scared to change it?

Part 6

Did you ever try to be a father?
And who taught you?
And did you love your children?
And did you hug and praise them?
And did you tell them they're the greatest?
Who taught you?
And were you ever a parent whose duty is to love and guide...
                protect and hide...
The children?
Who taught you?
And now here comes the hardest part.
Did you ever try to be a disciplinarian? And who taught you?
"On your knees, stretch those arms, lift that bucket, clean that rifle,
in your room for a month. No! make that two. Shut up before I shut you
up. How dare you steal from your brother and, how dare you lie to me you
lazy good for nothing stupid little bastard; I swear I'll drown
you...That's it, I've had it with all of you...(Angina attack)... Please
be a good little boy and get mommy her pills, quick now, hurry before
she dies..."

Part 7
Did you ever run away from home at twenty nine,
when nothing rhymed?
Because there were no fireside chats
Because there were no welcome mats.
Did you ever cry when saying good-bye?
Don't despair;
You're halfway there.

Part 8

Did you ever search to find what you couldn't see? or
Did you just want to be free?
Did you fill your life with store bought friends, and
Did you feel alone in the end?
Did you ever feel unloved?
Did you ever feel nobody cared?
I need somebody to care
Got to find me somebody to care
There's a girl, she'll understand
There's a hooker, she'll make me feel like a real man
"Don't cry, things will work out
Just fine, just fine. You'll see."

Part 9

A call from a buddy with whom I had confided
An invite to see what a family should be
Here comes another image building trip
Here comes another guilty whip
Well, it's a short stay
and I have to make my way.

Part 10

Did you ever meet a woman who listens?
Did you ever meet a woman who cares?
Did you ever meet a woman whose scared?
Did you ever meet a woman filled with trust and happiness?
          Did you ever meet a woman who deserved your love?
Did you ever meet a woman who deserved you?
"Have you been sad?
Have you been bad?
Tell me; Why are you down?
You've got it all, ...intelligence,... looks and,
You cry when I speak...
I love your tender heart.
But you're going to have to stop controlling me now.
You're not my master... I'm your mate!
Your not my teacher... I'm your mate!
You're not my father... I'm your mate!
And I'm not your mother... I'm your mate!
So quick, go now and get help,
Before it's too late!

Part 11

Sitting in a chair, trying to explain and be understood.
Answering questions; I know I should!
Sitting in a chair, filled with despair
Sitting in a chair, tears falling from nowhere
Sitting in a chair, feeling ridiculous
 Sitting in a chair, needing help.
Sitting in a chair, listening to the music
Sitting in a chair, getting the message while,
Sitting in a chair, going nowhere.

Part 12

Do you remember beating your kids?
Did you leave a bruise?
Do you remember hating your kids?
Did you leave a bruise?
Do you remember hugging your kids?
Did you leave a bruise?
Do you remember loving your kids?
Did you leave a bruise?

Part 13

How do you feel?
I'm angry and furious,
and it's all because of you Mother!
Through your problem I have suffered!
Through your problem I have made my children suffer!
Through your problem, I say
No more! the liar you said I'd always be Mother.
No more! the lazy you said I'd always be Mother.
No more! the lunatic you said I'd always be Mother.
No more! the doctor you always said I should be mother.
No more! the bully, you made me Mother.
No more! Mother.

Part 14

Sitting in a chair... so confused
Sitting in a chair... so blue
No more black or white,
Decisions seem so gray
Please hold me in your arms
Please be my trusted friend; I need you so much
Please hug me and, please be honest.
Do you love me?
Explain, I'll understand
I too am a man
So just hold me in your arms while I cry
Because of Mother.

Part 15

Just a little teardrop... No one suspects
Just a little teardrop... No one is upset
Just another teardrop and you know it's time to say
good-bye to the person you called Mother.

Part 16

Well Mother, I guess it's time you and I had ourselves a talk.
You may not like one word of it.
You may not like one stupid syllable, but this time,
you are going to shut your mouth, and this time Mother,
you are going to listen.
This time, I speak to you Mother cause
It's not fair; No,
It's not fair;
It's not fair; to have been treated this way. No No
  It's not fair for you to have cheated me this way,
I said, It's not fair;
It's not fair; I said
It's not fair;
It's not fair; No No,
It's not fair; for you to have beaten me this way.
No No,
It's not fair; I said No
It's not fair; for you to have lied to me this way.
No No,
It's not fair; for you to have scared me this way.
No No,
It's not fair; for you to kill me this way, no no
It's not fair; I said No No,
It's not fair;
For you to have hated me this way.
And, It's not fair;
For you to have left me this way.
I said, It's not fair; for me to leave you this way.
No, It's not fair for me to leave you this way.

Part 17

A brightness in my eyes, must be the sun on a rainy day
The burden's finally unloaded,
No more fears of ridicule from Mother
No more guilt imposed commitments from Mother
No more remorse as I set out on my new course
Away from Mother

Part 18

Thank you Brother for being there
Thank you Brother for helping me share
Thank you Brother,
You've taught me so much.

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