Lyrics:

When I was born they looked at me and said
what a good boy what a smart boy what a strong boy.
And when you were born they looked at you and said
what a good girl what a smart girl what a pretty girl.

Weve got these chains that hang around our necks
people want to stangle 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,
I know that it isnt right,
but be with me tonight.

I go to school, I write exams,
If I pass, if I fail, if I drop out, does anyone give a damn?
And if they do, theyll soon forget,
cause it wont take much for me to show that my life aint over yet.
I wake up scared, I wake up strange,
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.
I wake up scared, I wake strange
and everything around me stays the same.

*chorus*

I couldnt tell you that I was wrong,
chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.
I couldnt tell you that you were right,
so instead, I looked in the mirror watched tv laid awake all night.

Weve got these chains, hang round our necks,
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
Afraid of change, aftraid of staying the same,
when temptation calls...

*chorus*

When I was born, they looked ar me and said
what a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.
And when you were born, they looked at you and said
what a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey