A boy from Alabama
wanted to go and see the world.
He found himself in California
going stupid for a girl.
She was lightning, she was sunshine,
she was more than flesh and blood.
He wanted her to notice him
and he did all he could.

But he was shackled by the vows he'd made
to the one from home
and they had kids together;
he couldn't leave them all alone.

A monster's life,
his world of lies,
and he'd give up every part
for a chance to break
the liar's chains
he's wrapped around his heart.

He finally got the girl's attention
and they became good friends.
Sharing laughter, telling stories,
he wished those nights would never end.
The laughter led to kisses,
and then to what he thought was love.
He was standing on a cliff
and he was waiting for a shove;

He just didn't have the courage
to jump all on his own,
but he'd started to regret
all the nakedness he'd shown.

The coward's wise;
the coward tries
to protect every heart
from the pain he'd cause
by blasting off
and making a new start.

In his mind,
in another time,
he stands for truth
and he walks the line.
A broken bird,
his heart's in thirds.
Up on the roof,
his final words:

"This Alabama boy got to
love and lose the world.
Stupid, stupid, childish boy,
that California girl
was a tempest, was a temptress,
and she's rotten in your blood."

He took himself right to the edge
and said goodnight for good.

The monster's gone,
the coward's home
in his dry release.
There are no tears
for unlived years.
He's finally at peace.