I Wanted So Badly to be Brave

[Verse 1]

Well 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 expect it

You grabbed my hand adorned in wildflower warpaint

You made yellows out of marigolds

You made purple out of camellias

[Verse 2]

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

[Chorus]

You ran alone (you ran alone)

In the falling snow

Barefoot down Whites 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"

[Verse 3]

Your father came in angry like a thunderstorm

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

[Chorus]

But you ran alone (you ran alone)

In the falling snow

Bare foot down Whites 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"

[Bridge]

Kicked you out to teach you what a man is

But 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 cause they're empty

We've got a chance to break the cycle

We could be the heroes that we always said we'd be

"Don't take me home, don't take me home, don't take me

[Outro]

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"