Every Man

I was born in the city hospital
Torn from darkness into the light
First man I saw was the first to hit me
First woman I saw said hush don’t cry
I played with girls till I was six years old
Guys told me you don’t want no girl a friend
You can kiss em you can touch em
When you screw em you’ll be a man
Every man gonna be a soldier
Every man be cut to kill
Every man looking over his shoulder
Every man be shaking still
I played war, king of the mountain
When I hurt I did not cry kids’d laugh
Big guy hit me hot fire in the stomach
I hit a little guy put him on his back
Mike and me eight-year-old cowboys
He said c’mon what’sa matter you a queer
We went to Molly’s pulled her down and kissed her
She got up walked inside without a word
Every man gonna be a soldier
Every man be cut to kill
Every man looking over his shoulder
Every man be shaking still
Came the war to my generation
Government said son it’s your time make us proud
Some went to jail some went to Canada
Some went over some went crazy some went down
I walk the streets jagged with strangers
Wait for the gauntlet to be hurled
Push to shove edge of a razor
Make something of it he’ll cut you good
Every man gonna be a soldier
Every man be cut to kill
Every man looking over his shoulder
Every man be shaking still
I have killed but I am not a killer
I have cried out at the devil in the dark
I have reached out through the bars of my confinement
I have watched the tower I built fall apart
Gonna listen for the breathing of the baby
Gonna hold him in my arms when he cries
Gonna meet my lover’s gaze without turning
Gonna see myself and be satisfied
Every man got love abiding
Every man got a hurt unhealed
Every man got a heart in hiding
Every man gonna be revealed