I Wanted So Badly To Be Brave

I cut open my palm and held it out to you
You did the same with your old army surplus blade
My blood's never as warm as I'd expect it
You grabbed my hand adorned in wildflower warpaint

You made yellows out of Marigolds
You made purple out of Camellias

We charged headfirst into the woods with bows and arrows drawn
Crudely fashioned--sticks and rubber bands and spray paint
We swore ourselves protectors from all the evil in the world
You weren't born my brother but you're gonna die that way

You ran alone
(You ran alone)
In the falling snow
Barefoot down White's Road
I watched your bruises grow
(Your bruises grow)
Strangely beautiful
Purple and yellow
You said, "Don't
Don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me home"

Your father came in angry like a thunderstorm
He tossed you room from room and I watched color draining from your face
Fault lines started forming underneath all of your floorboards
We sat terrified, waiting on an earthquake

I watched you put on a brave face
I wanted so badly to be brave

You ran alone
(You ran alone)
In the falling snow
Barefoot down White's Road
I watched your bruises grow
(Your bruises grow)
Strangely beautiful
Purple and yellow
You said, "Don't
Don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me home"

Whoa oh oh
Whoa oh oh oh
Whoa oh oh
Whoa oh oh oh

They kicked you out to teach you what a man is
I don't think I'll ever know what that means
They'll put a gun into your hand and call you weak until you're violent
Don't believe it
They're hateful because they're empty
We got a chance to break the cycle
We could be the heroes that we always said we'd be
But don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me

Don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me
Home, home

Don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me
Home, home

Don't take me home. Don't take me home. Don't take me