by Barenaked Ladies
When I was born
They looked at me and said
"What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy"
When you were born
They looked at you and said
"What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl"
We've got these chains that hang around our necks
People want to strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls
We just look away
Chorus:
This name is the hairshirt I wear
And this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair
This song is the cross that I bear
Bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me
Be with me tonight
And know it isn't right
Be with me tonight
We go to school and write exams
If I pass, if I fail, if I drop out
Does anyone give a damn?
And if they do they'll soon forget
Because it won't take much for me to show them my life ain't over yet
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever gonna change
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
And everything around me stays the same
Chorus
I couldn't tell you I was wrong
Chickened out got a pen and paper
Sat down and I wrote this song
I couldn't tell you you were right
So instead I looked in the mirror
Watched TV, layed awake all night
We've got these chains hangin' around our necks
People wanna strangle us with them
Before we take our first breath
Afraid of change
Afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls...
Chorus
Repeat 1st Verse