Brave Man's Death
J Roddy Walston And The Business Lyrics

When my father put his shame on me
When my father assigned his own feelings of disgrace onto me

Said he wouldn′t put his name on me
Declared his unwillingness to associate his identity with mine

Said he wouldn't be the first in his family
Expressed his reluctance to break the tradition within his lineage

Whose son cried when he was born
To have a son who showed vulnerability and expressed emotions from the very beginning

Well he died the day I got a gun
He passed away when I acquired a firearm

Said that he was proud that I was his son
Expressed his pride in having me as his child

That was right there in his plan
That was an integral part of his intended course of action

I′d grow up and be a man
I would mature and become an adult

And there was a tear, I saw it in his eye
And there was a tear, which I witnessed in his eye

He said he couldn't think of a better way to die
He expressed that he could not imagine a more ideal manner of passing away

And the lord came down
And a higher power descended

And put a spoon in my mouth
And placed a spoon inside my mouth

It tasted so bitter, but I couldn't spit it out
The taste was incredibly unpleasant, but I was unable to eject it

It tasted like the money that my poor mama made
It had the flavor reminiscent of the money my destitute mother earned

Well, I went and stole it
Well, I went and took it without permission

′Cause she took it to the grave
Because she took it with her after her death

And there was a note, clenched in her right hand
And there was a handwritten message tightly held in her right hand

Said ′boy if you want to live, better die like a brave man'
The note stated that if I wished to survive, I should meet my demise in a courageous manner

Well, I don′t want to die in the middle of the night
Well, I have no desire to pass away during the darkness hours

I want a brave man's death
I desire a death associated with bravery

Spitting gasoline, burning my teeth, getting salt on the fields of my past
Expectorating fuel, causing my teeth to burn, and reminiscing with bitterness about my past experiences

And the sun′ll come down with a milky white flash
And the sun will descend, bringing about a brilliant white illumination

I'll get my brave man's death at last
Finally, I will achieve the death of a courageous man

I had a woman
I was involved with a woman

She had some kids
She had children of her own

She said she loved them
She claimed to have affection for them

I never did
However, I never reciprocated those feelings

Just the way that they feed
Only because they provided nourishment

And take away what was young
And took away what was youthful and innocent

Mo′ ass(?) and muscle can do what needed to be done
Greater physical strength and muscle alone were capable of accomplishing the necessary tasks

And the day that she died, her cup was fully drained
On the day of her passing, she had exhausted all her resources

She said take over my love, that life was worth the pain
She requested that I inherit her capacity to love, indicating that life held value despite its hardships

Had a heart that's wailing
Possessing a heart filled with lamentation

But I'm back without a bone
Yet, I have returned without any fortitude

And a body′d go to work, but my head would come home
While my physical body was engaged in labor, my mind would wander back home

And I always had a knife in case a real man came along
I constantly carried a knife, prepared for the arrival of a genuine man

He'd turn his head and his life was gone
If such a man appeared, a mere glance from him would swiftly end his life

So I hold it in my heart, yes I hold it in my heart, no I hide it in my heart
Thus, I retain this burden within my heart, concealing it from others

'Cause it′s tearing me apart
Because it is causing me immense emotional distress

Last thing that he said to me was blood was on my hands
The final words he uttered to me implicated me in causing harm

God, I want to die like a man
God, I yearn to meet my demise in a manner befitting of a brave individual

I don't want to die (I don′t want to die)
I do not wish to perish (I do not wish to perish)

I want a brave man's death
I desire a death characterized by courage

Praying′ the lord
Pleading to the Lord

A soul to keep, keep it in his right hand
To safeguard and preserve a soul within His right hand

And when they'd left, and send me death
And when others have departed, bestow upon me the gift of death

The death of a brave man
The death reminiscent of a courageous individual