Who I've Always Been

You walk in here with your guitar man

Your shiny boots and your full-on band

A smile on your face, a knife in your hand

Singing songs you got memorized

With whatever talent money buys

So polished that it slips right through your hands

But don't worry yourself, I ain't your competition

But don't flatter yourself, that was never my intention

I want to talk about what you are that I ain't

Let's talk about what you do that I can't

Let's talk about me and you in an empty room and who wins

Let's talk about what you did to get here

Let's talk about blood and sweat and tears

Let's talk about what you want to be and who I've always been

I walk in here with a beat up case

The same guitar I've always played

And the words I wrote down on a page

When I was 12 years old and small town raised

You tell the crowd you're paying dues

I tell them this is what I do

And it's what I put my life into

As I breathe the smoke and cheap perfume

And say life on music row is rough conditions

Oh, but the easy ride was never my ambition

I want to talk about what you are that I ain't

Let's talk about what you do that I can't

Let's talk about me and you in an empty room and who wins

Let's talk about what you did to get here

Let's talk about blood and sweat and tears

Let's talk about what you want to be and who I've always been

Let's talk about your childhood days

You were the prom queen, I was on this stage

So where's that crown gotten you these days

When it's me and you and the same damn games?

So what have you got that I ain't?

And what do you do that I can't?

Let's put me and you in an empty room and see who wins

Let's talk about what you did to get here

Let's talk about blood and sweat and tears

Let's talk about who you want to be, girl

And who I've always been