i was born stupid in a smoking pit
i’ve been starved for water
now i’m thinking this is it
i suppose i never knew the back of my own hand
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

i can’t remember faces
i don’t need that many friends
the bad ones, they all fall away
they’re worn out at both ends
though everybody warned me
i refused to take a stand
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

get your mind out of the gutter
clear the gutter of leaves
leave the door wide open
open up your mind for me
i mind that you were careless
i care about your plan
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

i was out of focus
i was out of time
i was out of excuses
i was out of line
i was out of patience
back to where it all began
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

you snap another picture
& my face is like a mask
i’ll heed your warning every time
& take myself to task
he’s just as i expected
so graceful & so grand
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

if you can take the pressure
then i can take the pain
you have all the power now
it’s driving you insane
i’d like to take a walk with you
& wear your wedding band
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

you’re on another level
you ought to be ashamed
for losing all the money
& taking all the blame
someone has to pay for this
it’s what the law demands
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

& now you’re smiling at me
i think that that’s a smile
been reading faces all day long
i’m gonna rest a while
i’ve never had a bad idea
i don’t even think i can
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

the sun pours down like honey
the stars go down the drain
the moon is crossed by wires
& nothing else remains
my planning was so careful
now i’m outgunned & outmanned
but baby, i’m not gonna be
not gonna be that man

now i seem so bitter
with so much to defend
but i’ll finish the story
& put a grace note at the end
i couldn’t keep my head up
so i turned away & ran
‘cause baby i could never be
will never be that man