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 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

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 isn't 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, they'll soon forget 'cause it won't take much for me
To show 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 going to change
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
And everything around me stays the same

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 isn't right, but be with me tonight

I couldn't tell you that I was wrong
Chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song
I couldn't tell you that you were right
So instead I looked in the mirror
Watched TV, laid awake all night
We've got these chains, hang 'round 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

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 isn't right, but be with me tonight

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, hey