Unwelcome Son

My momma asked me when I was young
To prove that men could be good
And I told her I would do
Everything that I could
To show the boy she'd made
Wasn't unwelcome
And she married a doctor a man
To satisfy grandma's plans
Who never would
Let me in the family albums
And he showed me how to be
A good man for all to see
But I had no business being me
For I was unwelcome

We all play out these stories
We all walk the lines
Even though we didn't write them
They're tattooed behind our eyes
I was so afraid of what I could do that I
I just played dumb

And I met girls
I even married one
Who didn't know just
What she wanted
And I told her baby I don't know
How to want or who I am
So you're welcome to use me
All you can
Oh sweet sacrifice
The blade it drops I feel
That liquor going down
So smooth

We all play out our stories
We all walk the lines
Even though we didn't write them
They're tattooed behind our eyes
I was so afraid
Of what I could do that I
I just played dumb

Now I got a girl of my own
When she's afraid she loves me more
Cause she knows
You might be safe but you'll be alone
If you're unwelcome
And we've got ourselves a family of four
The kids they build a fort on the floor
And we can all rest assured
That we're welcome

We all play out our stories
We all walk the lines
Even though we didn't write them they're
Tattooed behind our eyes
I'm no longer afraid of what I could do
But when I play chess with those kids
I still play dumb
Woo
That's right