Just Be a Man

When I was born
You know the doctor he warned
He wrote "this child came out a little wild"
Right on the form
Then they took me home
The blue sky broke into storm

Then I turned three
I dreamt I'd be
The meanest pirate out there
On the seven seas
A life of gold and girls and a great big ship and me

My daddy told me he said son
You can't have it all
You just do the best that you can
He said life's not what it seems
And it's dangerous to dream
When it's hard enough just to be a man
Just be a man

Then I turned six
The dream was this
I'd be the man with all the land I'd be a King
With a castle full of almost everything

When I turned eighteen
A little wild and mean
Not too impressed with anything so far I've seen
I guess life's not like the pictures in the magazines

My daddy told me he said son
You can't have it all
You just do the best that you can
He said life's not what it seems
And it's dangerous to dream
When it's hard enough just to be a man
Just be a man

I don't dream of pirates so much anymore
Or Kings and Queens and castles and a life I can't afford
Cause it's hard enough one you understand
What it takes to be a man

At thirty five I'm doing alright
I got a wife and kids and a roof that leaks when it rains outside
I guess the good days are the ones when no one cries

My daddy told me he said son
You can't have it all
You just do the best you can
He said life's not what it seems
And it's dangerous to dream
When it's hard enough just to be a man
Just be a man