The Man You Had To Be Lyrics

I was getting old before my time

Carrying the weight of all the world like it was mine

Looking after older women's children

Swallowing a line I fed myself to survive

You missed out on all you meant to do

Swept into the chaos and forgetting you were you

Nervously trying to tread the line between

The man you knew you were

And the man you had to be

But I've seen god in the wind

And my likeness in the trees

I've seen others who have forced me

And brought me to my knees

But oh my lord I hope I never see

A shadow of the man you had to be

I hope I never see the man you had to be

Whither and die or shed your skin

Religion couldn't save you, nor faith, not anything

Cos you walked with others in you yearning to get out

Scratching at you screaming to you from the inside out

But I've seen god in the wind

And my likeness in the trees

I still see him when I'm sleeping

Bearing down on top of me

But oh my lord I hope I never see

A shadow of the man you had to be

I hope I never see the man you had to be

And I'll say, oh my my, is this my time?

Will I learn to trust him, in the way I'd like?

Will he keep me going, will he make me strong?

Will he do me right, even when I'm wrong?

Will it light my fire? Will I ever learn?

To live in love, now that it's my turn

I will love you as long as you see

You never were the man you had to be

And I can hold you as long as the day

Follows the night follows the day

Follows the night follows the day

And may you always be the man you are today