If You Knew

(album: One - 2013)

It was 1990-something, I was in grade school
The other kids made it clear that I ain't cool
I hated it, just waking up and getting ready
Praying somehow that I wouldn't make the bus, man

My family wasn't rich
I couldn't rock those new kicks like the other kids
My grandmother liked to comb my hair a lot
And me, I loved her, so I let her, wouldn't dare to stop
If it wasn't the comb over, it was high water slacks
An easy target, honourable from front to back
But man, my peers wanted me to be
Somebody other than myself but I was me
And I never was accepted
Was beat up on the regular, insulted and neglected
You ever had to pass a crowd, with your eyes down
Looking at the ground, cause you know they don't want you around
It sucks, but I had to walk to class
And I was lucky if somebody didn't call me fag
Or knock my papers to the floor as I was passing
But if it was you I bet you wouldn't have been laughing

If you all knew what you do to them inside
All the things that they contemplate in life
Maybe you'd be a little nicer
If it was you with the scars
That never fade that were eating you alive
Maybe you'd be a little nicer

I've seen the victim turn guilty
Become the bully, because his self-esteem was filthy
But two wrongs never make a right
I know its cliche, but it's true, so take advice
This is a vicious cycle, you oughta blame
If you've ever seen it happen but you turned away in shame cause
Too many people witness the evil
And they do nothing about it but sit around looking peaceful
That was a chance to be somebody new
Report a bully if you know one if he bothers you
Cause if you don't, the hate is free, so pick another
Who are you to let yourself or somebody close to you suffer
This ain't the way that it's supposed to be
I'd like to think that if somebody was approaching me
I wouldn't have to be alert in fear of being hurt
But if it was you I bet you nobody would see a smirk

If you all knew what you do to them inside
All the things that they contemplate in life
Maybe you'd be a little nicer
If it was you with the scars
That never fade that were eating you alive
Maybe you'd be a little nicer