[Intro: low guitar riff, restrained drums, vocal close and rough] Don't worry about me I'm good Yeah I'm always good [Verse 1: restrained, conversational grit] I learned pretty young what a man should say Rub some dirt on it, you'll be okay Don't make a scene, don't let it show Handle your shit and get on with the show So I got damn good at changing the subject Cracking a joke when it got too close Everybody knows me as the steady one Funny what everybody doesn't know [Pre Chorus: tension building] I can carry your weight I can take your call I can show up at two in the morning But ask me what's wrong And I'll look you dead in the eye And tell you nothing [Chorus: massive guitars, full chest voice] WHO CHECKS ON THE STRONG ONE When everybody leans his way Who gives a damn if he's had enough When he's the one who always stays We say brother, I got your back Then never ask what's behind that laugh We've buried enough good men Who told everybody they were fine So call your brother Call your friend And don't let "I'm good" be where it ends [Verse 2: heavier groove, vocal more confrontational] We can talk all night about damn near anything Money, women, work, the game Give us a beer and an old truck hood We'll solve the whole damn world that way But try saying, "Man, I'm not doing good" Watch how strange those words can feel Like needing somebody makes you less of a man Who the hell taught us that was real [Pre Chorus: drums building harder] We'll throw an arm around a casket Say we wish we'd fucking known Then go right back to doing Exactly what we've always done [Chorus: explosive] WHO CHECKS ON THE STRONG ONE When everybody leans his way Who gives a damn if he's had enough When he's the one who always stays We say brother, I got your back Then never ask what's behind that laugh We've buried enough good men Who told everybody they were fine So call your brother Call your friend And don't let "I'm good" be where it ends [Bridge: instruments drop, vocal exposed and increasingly angry] My old man said boys don't cry His old man probably told him too Passed it down like family property Like that's what men are supposed to do Well maybe we stop handing it down Maybe my son gets something better from me Maybe strength ain't swallowing every damn thing Maybe strength is saying BROTHER I NEED YOU [Breakdown: crushing riff, male gang voices answering lead] I'M NOT GOOD [Gang vocals] THEN TALK TO ME I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE [Gang vocals] YOU DON'T HAVE TO I DON'T NEED YOU TO FIX IT [Gang vocals] I'M RIGHT HERE [Final Chorus: enormous, gang vocals supporting every line] WHO CHECKS ON THE STRONG ONE WE FUCKING DO When everybody leans his way WE HOLD HIM UP You don't lose a damn thing By telling somebody you're not okay We say brother, I got your back Then brother better mean more than that We've buried enough good men Who told everybody they were fine So call your brother Call your friend Sit your ass down and listen to him And when he says "I'm good" Ask him again [Outro: instruments cut except low guitar] Ask him again.
