Not My Father's Son

The day I was born, my dad set me down next in line of price and son
For him, a done deal, but for me
First opportunity, I grabbed my childhood sweetheart
And we jumped on the next train out of town
(What was it you ran off to do?)
Anything but what he wanted
(And yet here you are)
Here I am

When I was just a kid
Everything I did, was to be like him
Under my skin
My father always thought
If I was strong and fought
Not like some albatross, I'd begin
To fit in

Look at me powerless and holding my breath
Trying hard to repress what scared him to death
It was never easy to be his type of man
To breathe freely was not in his plan
And the best part of me
Is what he wouldn't see

I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me

So I jumped in my dreams and found an escape
Maybe I went to extremes of leather and lace
But the world seemed bright six inches off the ground
And the air seemed to light
I was profound and I felt so proud
Just to leave out loud

I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me

The endless torrent of expectation, swirling inside my mind
Pouring me down I came to a realization
And I finally turn around to see
But I could just be in me

I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me

We're the same Charlie boy, you and me
Charlie from Northampton
Meet Simon from Clapton
Let's make bot