Words, words, words, but powerful, they dig deep into a boy's mind and become the standard he comes to measure himself by, who he is, who he must be, must live up to.
Real men never cry. Real men never cry. Never, ever hit a girl no matter what. Bullies are all ****** little cowards. Never back down. Never back down. Always demand the most of yourself. Never blame anyone else if you fail. Never back down. Never back down. Play fair but play to win. Show no mercy, take no prisoners, have no regrets, never complain. Never back down. Never back down. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. Real men never cry. Real men never cry. Pain makes you stronger. Life's not fair. Don't be a baby. Stop acting like a girl. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. **** it up. It doesn't hurt. Be tough. Nice guys finish last. Shed no tears. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. Be a man. Real men never cry. Real men never cry.
We believed deeply in all this **** and when the time came, took it to war. Very little made it back to the world.
~mce
Growing up in the 50s and early 60s. A very different world.