Rochester

I was born in Rochester To a bookmaking man Had a fake cigar shops With the games on in the back See them coming and going Let them ride on thoroughbreds Police chief and Tompaw wondering what was the spread Carried rich men's bag through the brow Trying to chase down a little white ball I learned that any soft place wasn't good for me at all Daddy come home fired up looking for some sort of release He beat the hell out of Timmy, Timmy beat the hell out of me I would hop the fence out to this government fields Run 'til there was nothing more to feel Lying there watching planes just disappear Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here Well that same police chief came knockin' my first freshman day Put my daddy in handcuffs and put his picture on the front page To everyone of his suits and all my dignity Walk the halls around the court waiting for any punk to set me free I would hop the fence out to this government fields Run 'til there was nothing more to feel Lying there watching planes just disappear Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here Well I got that call to Vietnam just like everyone else I knew So scared of the hand grenades threw them farther than any other troop I came home like an iron fist and Timmy tried to take my keys Ripped open his front pocket that was the last time he touched me Moved to an island out west up to Breckenridge Met a mermaid on a glass boat and she promised me some kids Bought a house in Oregon where you could touch both of the walls Had a son named Benjamin and I was so scared of it all Well Benjamin walked in the front room where I was cutting up my hash Looked into those deep blue eyes wondering why I'd been so mad Flushed a quarter pound down the drain praying for the mercy to confess Trying to rip the boy from Rochester right out of my chest We're gonna walk right out into these heavenly fields Run like there was no more time to steal My three boys in the grace of god I feel Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here --- Rochester - Mat Kearney