[written by The Rudiments]



breakin' out the old wailing paddle 

pull the splinters out of your skin 

ice your knuckle, vow revenge 

corporal rule, teach it cruel 

hard times, you missed a grand time 



ingrained acceptance, invisible scars 

take your whippin' like a man and you'll be a winner yeah 

don't you wanna shine like the stars 

good boys do good girls don't 

double standards feeding off the rusty remains of the past 



the things we learn from consequence 

we're all just figures messed up in coincidence 

you live your life by foolishness 

the things we least require take priority 



who listens to the punk rockers anymore? 

spit the fire like before, just like Mark Twain 



play the roles away 



driving past the billboards with the legs that sell 

get yourself a new car & a bottle & the babes will follow you 

it's all just fun you see, no one gets hurt 

why should we question what is commonplace 



the things we learn from consequence 

we're all just figures messed up in coincidence 

you live your life by foolishness 

the things we least require take priority 



play the roles away 



...in the classroom, in the back row, some old lecture 

...in the locker room, there's an asshole yellin' at your mom 

...on the bar stool, tryin' not to be, but it's hard to change 

...but in the end, who do you think created all the roles that we play?