Running through the mud, playing games outside,
It must have been summer ‘95.
Everything would change when her dad arrived,
And for the first time I saw fear in someone’s eyes.
She would never say.
She would never say.

Hiding in my bedroom, hiding from what’s true
On that autumn evening 2002.
“How come your mom’s face is always black and blue?”
She just made up lies like she never knew.
She would never say.
She would never say.

Sitting in the driveway, tears in her eyes,
It’s the end of school, 2005.
“We could run away, leave it all behind.”
But she swallowed her tears and went back inside.
She would never say.
She would never say.

Reunited again, and she swears she’s fine
At the grocery store 2009.
She gave up hope for a healthy life.
Saw the fear replaced by the guilt inside.
She would never say.
She would never say.

Couple miles from my new life,
Thousands from my home.
Forced to rely on all I know
But all I know is a joke.
I can hear my mom say “Son you can’t give up”
As I’m pulling over because I might just throw up.
So I grit my teeth, dust off my sleeves,
I’m feeling hopeless, I may need to eat.
All my friends keep texting “When will you be home?”
Man I don’t know.
I’ll figure that out tomorrow.

Oh what an awkward life I’ve made.
A future forged by silly dreams and a fairy tale masquerade.
Trying to survive on my trade,
Armed with fear and an education I probably overpaid.
Every week I’m in a different state.
State of mind and through state lines, there’s friends at every gate.
But I don’t want to wait.
Say man, I’ll see you in New York.
Ok, I’ll meet you in Austin.
Oh yeah, I see you in Charlotte.
Ok, let’s meet up in Boston.

Tomorrow is my year, oh,
I’d shout out but I’m waiting for
Anxiety to quiet down inside me.
But I’ll wait and see,
With some luck I won’t **** this up
Because I’ll be home this week.

While on my way to Golden Town
To save the weary dead,
I saw a man in tattered clothes
Rubbing his wounded head.
I offered him assistance,
I helped him to his feet.
Despite my kindly gesture
He was hesitant to speak.

“Good sir,” I asked, “are you alright?”
The stranger did not respond.
Though he was looking right at me,
I swear his eyes looked beyond.
“I’m headed down to Golden Town,
To save the weary dead.”
I expected a joyful reaction,
But was greeted with apathy instead.

He scoffed, and laughed, at my endeavor,
Placing his hand on his hip.
“You’re wasting your time,” he finally said,
“I’m saving you a trip.
That Golden Town is rotten to its core,
Filled with wretched disease.
I, like you, went to rescue the lot,
Only to get cut at my knees.”

He began to walk to where I came,
Expressionless with his stride.
Before he left, his last words to me were
“You won’t come out there alive.”

I gazed upon the Golden Town,
Conflicted by the light.
How could a town be so crooked and dark
When the walls shine so bright?

Calling me.
Leaving me messages saying how you’re sorry.
Voice mailbox is full, it’s exhausting.

Texting me.
Repeating feelings you already expressed.
At this point, I don’t know what you expect.

Changes.
You swear you’ve been going through some changes.
You wanna know what I find strange is?
You were better the way you were.
But you wanted to be somebody.
Made me think I was nobody.
Hooking up with girls at parties.
Only cared when I was departing.
Now I’m becoming somebody.
Now you wanna love my body.
But you shouldn't love nobody.
‘Cause you’re just gonna hurt somebody.

It’s not fair, don’t make me say this.
Don’t try to make me reminisce.
We can’t go back to fish and chips.
We can’t get back that rooftop kiss.

You don’t get it, you don’t get it.
This dream you have of us, forget it.
I’m someone new, someone new.
And you’re just someone that I knew.

I hope you accept my apology.
I know it’s hard to trust me.
I told myself that I would keep my cool
But I know I’ve just been a fool.
Ashamed of what I’ve turned into.
Though you’ve forgotten me,
I’m missing you.
Do you believe that we can start again?
Make amends?
To where we began?

Ever since you left I wondered
What could I have changed to keep you from running off?
What could I have said to prevent you from becoming lost?
What is it I did to make me just another afterthought?
You wanted something new?
I can be somebody new.
Oh, but you changed your zip code.
Out in Philly in the cold.
That part of me is forever closed.
Charm City’s not the same without you,
I need you back home.
Please just pick up your phone.