It Wasn’t Me
Lou Reed & John Cale Lyrics

It wasn't me who shamed you, it's not fair to say that
I didn't humiliate you, so it's unfair to accuse me of doing so

You wanted to work I gave you a chance at that
You expressed a desire to work, and I gave you the opportunity to do so

It wasn't me who hurt you, that's more credit than I'm worth
I am not responsible for your pain and suffering; it's too much credit to give me

Don't threaten me with the things you'll do to you
Do not use self-harm as a means to threaten or manipulate me

It wasn't me who brought you down
I did not cause your downfall

You did it to yourself without any help from me
You are responsible for your own actions and the consequences thereof

I showed you possibilities
I presented you with options and opportunities

The problems you had were there before you met me
The issues you faced were present prior to our encounter

I didn't say this had to be
I did not impose any specific conditions or requirements

You can't blame these things on me
You cannot hold me accountable for these circumstances

I know she's dead, it wasn't me
I am aware of her passing, but I did not have any involvement in the matter

It wasn't me who changed you, you did it to yourself
I did not cause any change in you; you underwent those changes on your own

I'm not an excuse for the hole that you dropped in
I cannot be used as a scapegoat for the problems you find yourself in

I'm not simple minded but I'm no father to you at all
I am not unintelligent, but I cannot act as your paternal figure

Death exists but you do things to yourself
Death is an inevitable occurrence, but your actions contribute to your demise

I never said give up control
I never advocated for you to relinquish control of your life

I never said stick a needle in your arm and die
I never suggested or condoned the use of intravenous drugs for self-destruction

I know he's dead but it wasn't me
I acknowledge his passing, but I was not involved in the occurrence

You did it to yourself without any help from me
You are responsible for your own failures and shortcomings, and I did not contribute to them

You act as if I could've told you or stopped you like some god
You seem to think I have god-like powers to intervene in your decisions or actions

But people never listen and you know that that's a fact
It's a known fact that people often ignore advice or warning, as you have done

I never said slit your wrists and die
I never advocated for or encouraged self-harm or suicide

I never said throw your life away
I never suggested or implied that your life is disposable or meaningless

You're killing yourself - you can't blame me
You are the one taking actions that lead to your own demise, and therefore cannot hold me responsible