Falstaff

Old friend: I know you see
The way they look right through you
When they tell your stories for you
You see
The way they nudge each other laughingly
Until you’ve confessed the coward you proved to be
You see
But you laugh ‘em off
You won’t let ‘em put you off
You’re off to scheme, to plot, to scoff
You laugh them off
You’re not a clown
I know you’re taller in your stories, man
But don’t let ‘em get you down
You just have a little trouble being brave
Old friend: I know you hear
You’re here to hear our stories
Here to hold our hair and histories
You hear
The way the princes and the pundits
Drag you down for all your lies and fat and beer
You hear
But you shrug ‘em off
You don’t let ‘em get you down
You down another cup of sack
And you shrug ‘em off
When they hit a nerve
You’re not the hero they all want, man
But you’re more than they deserve
You just have a little trouble being brave
So take the stage
That is your play
It’s everything we’re most afraid of
That defines us day by day
You’ve got naught to be ashamed of now
You’ve nothing to explain
We all just have a little trouble being brave