Brave Man's Death

Well, my father put his shame on me.
Said he wouldn't put his name on me.
Said he wouldn't be the first in his family
Whose son cried when he was born.

Well, he died the day I got a gun.
Said that he was proud that I's his son.
That was right there in his plan,
I'd grow up and be a man,

And there was a tear,
I saw it in his eye.
He said he couldn't think
Of a better way to die.

And the Lord came down
And put a spoon in my mouth.
It tasted so bitter,
But I couldn't spit it out.

It tasted like the money
That my poor momma made
Well, I went an' stole it
'cause she took it to the grave.

And there was a note
Clenched in her right hand.
Said, "Boy, if you wanna live,
"Better die like a brave man."

Well, I don't wanna die in the middle of the night.
I want a brave man's death.
I don't wanna die in the middle of the night.
I want a brave man's death.

Spittin' gasoline, burnin' my teeth,
Gettin' salt on the fields of my past,
And a sword'll come down with a milky white flash;
I'll get my brave man's death at last.

I had a woman.
She had some kids.
She said she loved them.
I never did.

Just the way that they feed
And take away what was young.
My wife's muscle
Could do what needed to be done.

That day that she died,
Her cup was fully drained.
She said, "Take hope, my love.
"That life was worth the pain."

Well, I don't wanna die in the middle of the night.
I want a brave man's death.
I don't wanna die in the middle of the night.
I want a brave man's death.

Spittin' gasoline, burnin' my teeth,
Gettin' salt on the fields of my past,
And a sword'll come down with a milky white flash;
I'll get my brave man's death at last.

Had a heart that's willing,
But a back without a bone,
And a body'd go to war,
But my head would come home,

And I always had a knife
In case a real man came along.
He'd turn his head
And his life was gone.

So, I hold it in my heart.
Yes, I hold it in my heart.
No, I hide it my heart
'cause it's tearin' me apart,

Last thing that he said to me
Was blood was on my hands.
God, I wanna die like a man.
YEAH!

I don't wanna die. (I don't wanna die.)
I want a brave man's death.
I don't wanna die. (I don't wanna die.)
I want a brave man's death.

Pray the Lord my soul to keep,
Keep it in his right hand,
And with his left, to send me death,
The death of a brave man.

I don't wanna die. (I don't wanna die.)
I want a brave man's death.
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