[Verse 1] My mother told me My only son Please make something Useful of your life I wanna be proud Not broken at your grave I don't wanna cry Because you gave your life away I love you so much My only son Her hands on my shoulders Eyes already afraid [Verse 2] But I took my guitar Three crooked chords A couple old songs And a head full of glow Dreamed about stages And screaming my name Dreamed I'd wake up Some kind of star Thought I was stronger Than every dark door Thought I could walk in And still walk out whole [Chorus] Alcohol Smoky bars Lost souls and lying women They tore up my plans And set fire to my youth Alcohol Smoky bars Cheap love and crooked winnings Destroyed all my dreams And I was too weak It’s true I was too weak To fight my way through [Verse 3] Woke up in strangers’ rooms Names I never knew Makeup on the pillow Numbers on my hand Promises whispered Right into my scars Fade with the daylight Fade with the band Every bad bargain I swore was the last Got paid in regret And a slow burning shame [Chorus] Alcohol Smoky bars Lost souls and lying women They tore up my plans And set fire to my youth Alcohol Smoky bars Cheap love and crooked winnings Destroyed all my dreams And I was too weak It’s true I was too weak To fight my way through [Bridge] Mama You warned me I laughed and I ran Chased after shadows Called them a plan Now when I see you I can't meet your eyes I wear my excuses Like a thin disguise (oh mama) [Chorus] Alcohol Smoky bars Lost souls and lying women They tore up my plans And set fire to my youth Alcohol Smoky bars Cheap love and crooked winnings Destroyed all my dreams And I was too weak It’s true I was too weak To fight my way through I was too weak To fight my way through
