Out in the Open

I remember in my younger years

Walking to the city pool

Got yelled at, called a faggot

From this kid I knew in school

His dad, and dad before him

Lived outside of town

With a lack of education

Yeah, the options weren't around

Sometimes I'd see that boy in class

With bruises on his eyes

Red and pretty swollen

Tears tangled up in pride

Repeating memorized rhetoric

About it being God's way

If I don't follow the good book

Then there'll be some hell to pay

I don't blame you how you turned out

A habit's hard to break

You were born into what you became

And I was born this way

I can try to show compassion

Before you take that shot

Out here in the open

Whether I like it or not

Driving back from a party

With friends on a Saturday night

I slowed down to a wreckage

In the coldest part of night

That boy who called me faggot

Lie bleeding, almost dead

He wrecked that truck from drinking

And the windshield met his head

Well, I pulled him from the driver seat

Said, "Help is on its way"

Put my hand up upon his chest

And said, "It'll be okay"

When he focused on my likeness

I could see it in his eyes

Everything he taught to hate

Would finally save his life

"And the irony about this"

I told him with a smile

"Your God must work in stranger ways

Than your heart will allow"

He caught his breath between the tears

His eyes bloodshot and dim

His rebel flag tattooed hand, holding mine to his

He said, "Please don't blame me for how I turned out

I learned a little late

I was born into what I became

And you were born this way

I can try to show compassion

That might be all I've got

Out here in the open

Whether I like it or not"