Orphan

Called up a friend the other day Just to see what kinda words he'd say Said 'I just met a man down here -- his girlfriend don't like you' Said 'Well, gimmie a number and her address and I'll sincerely do my best to avoid her the next time I'm passin' through.' I've never been much for followin' rules I always go out and act a fool And somethin' bad would happen by and by Can't say I'm always proud of myself, But I don't wish I was somebody else In fact, I'd rather be me than you But a lot of people don't like me Not my music, I mean personally They wanna tell how to act and what to say Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Went to a party in the middle of the night I was fallin' up the stairs and that's alright I pictured the whole place in flames and it made me smile Wonder why I thought these terrible things And the voice in my head heard the telephone ring Picked up and said 'We'd been wondering for a while' All these people gather round My heart goes backwards, my head drops down I hear my voice say things I told it not to Don't know who it's directed at Or why I chose to say something like that And now what'd I truly plan to do But a lot of people don't like me Not my music, I mean personally They wanna tell how to act and what to say Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? And sometimes I was under the gun, And when I was I tended to run It was important, but it wasn't worth dyin' for Someone said 'He who fights and runs awake and avoids gettin' killed another day So I've made a point of every window and every door Walked into walls, slept in the dirt I've been punched in the face and I admit that it hurt And I had enemies that I called my friends It doesn't matter if I get low down I'm the one riddin', I'm the hero right now And all I gotta do is use my imagination But a lot of people don't like me Not my music, I mean personally They wanna tell how to act and what to say Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Would you rather be an orphan or a slave? Would you rather be an orphan or a slave?