On The Outside

(album: Only A Lad - 1981)

They laugh at me aloud
They say I'm just a clown
That I ain't got no pride
I'm on the outside

The girls look really cute
They really make it work
They think I'm just a jerk
I'm on the outside

I never could sit still
I never was too hip
I never caught the ride
I'm on the outside

I'm on the outside, I'm the outside now
This is where it all begins
On the outside, looking in; I'm on the outside

I never was a punk
I never shot junk
I never even tried, counterculture
Passed me right by
(I'm on the outside)

Don't talk to debutantes
Don't eat in restaurants
The patrons sit and stare
The waiters make wisecracks behind my back
(I'm on the outside)

Teachers there in school
They flunked me by the rule
They say I had no motivation, brains, or dedication
I guess the imbeciles were right; I'm on the outside

I'm on the outside, I'm on the outside now
This is where it all begins: on the outside, looking in
Looking in
At you
I'm just an alien through and through
Trying to make believe I'm you
Trying to fit
Just a stranger on the outside, looking in

The disco makes me sick
I wear the wrong clothes
I say the wrong things
You know I can't dance
My feet are much too wide
(I'm on the outside)

You think you set the trends
You wear your hair just right
Your clothes are outta sight
Your house is modern; really kitsch
You get so macho when you're with your bitch
(I'm on the outside)

I see them go to work
I see them go to sleep
I see them on TV
I see them laugh and cry
I'm on the outside

I'm on the outside, I'm on the outside now
This is where it all begins: on the outside, looking in
Looking in
At you
I'm just an alien through and through
Trying to make believe I'm you
Trying to fit
Just a stranger on the outside, looking in

I'm on the outside now