Lyrics:

Title: What's The Matter Here?
Artist: 10000 Maniacs
Album: Mtv Unplugged











(Buck/Merchant)







That young boy without a name I'd know his face. In this city the



kid's my favorite. I've seen him. I see him every day. Seen him run



outside looking for a place to hide from his father, the kid half naked and



said to myself 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the excuses



everbody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it, but who gave you the right



to do this?



We live on Morgan Street; just ten feet between and his mother, I



never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day. Threats



like: 'If you don't mind I will beat on your behind,' 'Slap you, slap you



silly.' Made me say, 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the



excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit, but get this



through that I don't approve of what you did to you own flesh and blood.



'If you don't sit in your chair straight I'll take this belt from



around my waist and don't think that I won't use it!'



Answer me and take your time, what could be the awful crime he could



do at so young an age? If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me



some words to balance out what I see and what I hear. All these cold and



rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you and



instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores



won't heal with time or age.



I want to say 'What's the Matter here?' But I don't dare say.

















(Buck/Merchant)

(Buck/Merchant)







That young boy without a name I'd know his face. In this city the

That young boy without a name I'd know his face. In this city the



kid's my favorite. I've seen him. I see him every day. Seen him run

kid's my favorite. I've seen him. I see him every day. Seen him run



outside looking for a place to hide from his father, the kid half naked and

outside looking for a place to hide from his father, the kid half naked and



said to myself 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the excuses

said to myself 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the excuses



everbody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it, but who gave you the right

everbody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it, but who gave you the right



to do this?

to do this?



We live on Morgan Street; just ten feet between and his mother, I

We live on Morgan Street; just ten feet between and his mother, I



never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day. Threats

never see her, but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day. Threats



like: 'If you don't mind I will beat on your behind,' 'Slap you, slap you

like: 'If you don't mind I will beat on your behind,' 'Slap you, slap you



silly.' Made me say, 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the

silly.' Made me say, 'O, what's the matter here?' I'm tired of the



excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit, but get this

excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit, but get this



through that I don't approve of what you did to you own flesh and blood.

through that I don't approve of what you did to you own flesh and blood.



'If you don't sit in your chair straight I'll take this belt from

'If you don't sit in your chair straight I'll take this belt from



around my waist and don't think that I won't use it!'

around my waist and don't think that I won't use it!'



Answer me and take your time, what could be the awful crime he could

Answer me and take your time, what could be the awful crime he could



do at so young an age? If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me

do at so young an age? If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me



some words to balance out what I see and what I hear. All these cold and

some words to balance out what I see and what I hear. All these cold and



rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you and

rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you and



instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores

instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores



won't heal with time or age.

won't heal with time or age.



I want to say 'What's the Matter here?' But I don't dare say.

I want to say 'What's the Matter here?' But I don't dare say.