BORN MEAN

Intro Mama said I came out mad at the light Doctor said, "He'll settle." Mama said, "He might." He didn't.

Verse 1 I never needed much to start a fight Just a crooked word on the wrong damn night Had Sunday shoes and a Saturday grin Knew how to lose before I learned to win They taught me "yes sir," taught me shake a hand Taught me every rule a good boy understands But under the polish and the clean white shirt Something's been grinning in the dirt since birth

Pre-Chorus Don't blame the whiskey Don't blame the town I was already like this Before either came around

Chorus Born mean — came that way Before I learned the rules I was built to disobey Born mean — sharp and lean Sunday shirt on the outside, bad wiring underneath You can sand these edges You can wash me clean But I wasn't raised mean — Raising just taught it manners I was born mean

Post-Chorus Born. Mean.

Verse 2 Preacher put water on the back of my head Said, "Boy, walk straight." I heard every word he said Tried it one whole summer, damn near broke my stride Some men got peace — I got teeth inside I don't kick dogs, I don't scare the weak I save the bad half for the men who speak Like kindness means I forgot how to bite Brother, I'm polite — I ain't been made right

Chorus Born mean — came that way Before I learned the rules I was built to disobey Born mean — sharp and lean Sunday shirt on the outside, bad wiring underneath You can sand these edges You can wash me clean But I wasn't raised mean — Raising just taught it manners I was born mean

Bridge I ain't proud of every tooth mark I left Ain't losing sleep over the folks I never impressed Some men spend a whole damn life pretending I saved everybody the trouble from the beginning

Final Chorus Born mean — came that way Time filed nothing off me anyway Born mean — still got teeth Still got one live nerve you don't want to get beneath You can call it damage You can call it genes I call it saving everybody time — I was born mean

Outro Could've turned out nicer. …Didn't.

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