Raised in Books

from NURSERY MYTHS by THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS

	/

lyrics

RAISED IN BOOKS
i am so suspicious.
i admit it, i'm ill fitted
honestly i live like my life's a Swedish film.
and i've been writing and then forgetting
all that i've written, by little bits.
i shake my wits and start out again.
this is my story.
i fear the future, but i like the extra time.
i curse the years, but i like to have a story to start from.
i was born in this red state
to a pair of white, socialite, middle-class working folks.
i was raised in books, raised in films, raised in church.
i was brought up with the fear of God,
the ever-there fear of hell.
that punishment was terrible
i was terrified I'd die, they said i'd burn alive.
they said i'd burn alive
if i did not do right.
they said i'd burn alive.
and now i'm superstitious.
i feel bitten by words i've written.
honestly, i am waiting for something to come.
and i've been ticking down the minutes
until it's ended.
tactically dodging your ill will.
i fear the future, but i'd like some extra time.
i curse the years, but i like to have a platform to stand on.
i was born in these cruel states
with a history of misery tied to me.
my family tree killed and took,
killed and took, killed and took.
and it was all in the name of God.
the manifest destiny.
what God was it we aimed to please?
the one who had you terrified,
who said he'd burn you alive.
he said we'd burn alive.
if we did not choose right.
we would burn alive.
i lost my fear of hell,
i lost my fear of hell,
i lost my fear of life, as well.

credits

from NURSERY MYTHS, released September 19, 2009

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THE BLACK AND WHITE YEARS Austin, Texas

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