A Father and a Son

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 shoulda 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 that 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 and he was always right

But he had the power, 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 wanna backtrack

The bigger the front, the bigger the back

The bigger the front, the bigger the back

Now you and me are me and you

And it's a different ball game though not brand-new

I don't know what all of this fightin' is for

We're havin' us a teenage, middle-age war

I don't wanna die, and you wanna live

Takes a little bit of take, a whole lotta give

Never really ends though each race is run

This thing between a father and a son

Maybe it's power, push and shove

Maybe it's hate, probably it's love

Maybe it's hate, probably it's love