Father And A Son
Composer(s): Loudon Wainwright III
Performer(s): Loudon Wainwright III



When I was your age I was just like you
And just look at me now; I'm sure you do
But your grandfather was just as bad
And you should have heard him trash his dad
Life's no picnic, that's a given
My mom's mom died when my mom was seven
My mom's father was a tragic guy
But he was so distant and nobody knows why
Now, your mother's family, you know them
Each and every one a gem
Each and every one a gem

When I was your age I was a mess
On a bad day I still am, I guess
I think I know what you're going through
Everything changes but nothing is new
And I know that I'm miserable; can't you see?
I just want you to be just like me
Boys grow up to be grown men
And then men change back into boys again
You're starting up and I'm winding down
Ain't it big enough for us both in this town?
Say it's big enough for us both in this town

When I was your age I thought I hated my dad
And that the feeling was a mutual one that we had
We fought each other day and night
I was always wrong; he was always right
But he had the power and he needed to win
His life half over, mine about to begin
I'm not sure about that Oedipal stuff
But when we were together it was always rough
Hate is a strong word; I want to back-track
The bigger the front, then the bigger the back
The bigger the front, then the bigger the back

Now you and me are me and you
And it's a different ballgame though not brand-new
I don't know what all of this fighting is for
But we're having us a teenage/middle-age war
I don't want to die and you want to live
It takes a little bit of take and a whole lot of give
It never really ends though each race is run
This thing between a father and a son
Maybe it's power and push and shove
Maybe it's hate but probably it's love
Maybe it's hate but probably it's love