Brittle Bones Nicky

Wires got crossed when I was about three

Dad had bloody heavy hands, used them on me

My mamma? Bless her heart, 'cause she gave me a start

She got killed, bad man, dad stiffed in a scam

Grew up in the system, bounced, couple homes

This woman Mary, gifted me hand-me-down clothes

Shy at the start, till this guy named Shifty

Who had 100 pounds on me called me Brittle Bones Nicky

A target aimed straight at my face

Big house of kids, cred is cake

Rounded up a couple bucks, got it freshly baked

Sat down to dinner

Put it right in his face

Right in his fucking face (in his face)

You're not gonna push me around

You can't get me down, down, down (down!)

You're not gonna push me around (no!)

You can't get me down, down, down (down!)

Bounce ahead a couple years, king of my peers

We biked the block, cheersin' pretty girls beers

Did alright for myself, petty thefts I pulled

I dropped outta school, built a circle of bulls

Needing more money, covered head to toe

Snuck up, sucker, took his stash, and drove

The cash stashed, it was pouring in

Bulk of it up my nose

How dumb I was, twenty-one

And way out of control

The cops kicked down the door

She did a line right off my (wow!)

Said that's one way to go down

Knew I was hard as rock

Knew-I-was-hard-as-rock (hard as rock)

You're not gonna push me around

You can't get me down, down, down (down)

You're not gonna push me around (no)

You can't get me down, down, down (down)

Bars, new world, who could I trust?

Killers were nice, smugglers were rough

Met a man named Ben, quite sharp and witty

Gave me books about money and cities

Taught me ropes, only years coulda gained

Looked out for each other, M O's the same

That night I heard Ben, turning 50 in May

Yellin' so loud, two decades we aged

Found him cornered, pants down, shanked

Didn't even think twice, man I barely blinked

(I barely blinked, I barely blinked)

If it cost me my life, man, I'd save my only friend

That's something I could live with

I could take that till the end

If it cost me my life, man, I'd save my only friend

That's something I could live with

I could take that till the end (hey)

You're not gonna push me around

You can't get me down, down, down (down)

You're not gonna push me around (no)

You can't get me down, down, down (down)

Now every morning, coffee, park

Walking around the city, deals light or dark

I'm straight edge as a punk, well-mannered, and I feel free

Tried to do what I thought was best

And that's coming to the grave with me

As I lay here in my final nights, I try to have a laugh

I didn't win the game of life

But I'd give myself a pass