Not My Father's Son

When I was just a kid

Everything I did was to be like him

Under my skin

My father always thought

If I was strong and fought

Not like some albatross, I'd begin

To fit in

Look at me, powerless and holding my breath

Trying hard to repress what scared him to death

It was never easy to be his type of man

To breathe freely was not in his plan

And the best part of me

Is what he wouldn't see

I'm not my father's son

I'm not the image of what he dreamed of

With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job

Still couldn't be the one

To echo what he'd done

And mirror what was not in me

So I jumped in my dreams and found an escape

Maybe I went to extremes of leather and lace

But the world seemed brighter six inches off the ground

And the air seemed lighter, I was profound

And I felt so proud

Just to live out loud

I'm not my father's son

I'm not the image of what he dreamed of

With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job

Still couldn't be the one

To echo what he'd done

And mirror what was not in me

The endless torrent of expectations

Swirling inside my mind wore me down

I came to a realization

And I finally turned around

To see

That I could just be me

I'm not my father's son

I'm not the image of what he dreamed of

With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job

Still couldn't be the one

To echo what he'd done

And mirror what was not in me

We're the same, Charlie boy

You and me

Charlie from North Hampton

Meet Simon from Clackton

Let's make boots