Music Video

Featured In

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Vocals
Steve Gustafson
Steve Gustafson
Bass Guitar
Jerome Augustyniak
Jerome Augustyniak
Drums
Dennis Drew
Dennis Drew
Keyboards
Rob Buck
Rob Buck
Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Natalie Merchant
Natalie Merchant
Songwriter
Rob Buck
Rob Buck
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Peter Asher
Peter Asher
Producer
Doug Sax
Doug Sax
Mastering Engineer
Duane Seykora
Duane Seykora
Assistant Engineer
Frank Wolf
Frank Wolf
Mixing Engineer
George Massenburg
George Massenburg
Mixing Engineer
Mike Reese
Mike Reese
Mastering Engineer
Sharon Rice
Sharon Rice
Additional Engineer
Shep Lonsdale
Shep Lonsdale
Assistant Engineer

Lyrics

[Intro]
Na-na-na, yeah, yeah, oh-oh, hey, hey
[Verse 1]
That young boy without a name
Anywhere, I'd know his face
In this city the kid's my favorite
I've seen, I've seen him
I see him every day
[Verse 2]
Seen him run outside
Looking for a place to hide
From his father
The kid half naked
And said to myself
"Oh, what's the matter here?"
[Chorus]
I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's their kid
I stay out of it
But who gave you the right
To do this?
[Verse 3]
We live on Morgan Street
Just ten feet between
And his mother, I never see her
But her screams and cussing
I hear them every day
[Verse 4]
Threats like
If you don't mind
I will beat on your behind
Slap you, slap you silly
Made me say
"Oh, what's the matter here?"
[Chorus]
I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Do as you see fit
But get this through
That I don't approve
Of what you did
To your own flesh and blood
[Chorus]
I have heard the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Do as you see fit
But get this through
That I don't approve
Of what you did
To your own flesh and blood
[Bridge]
If you don't sit
In your chair straight
I'll take this belt
From around my waist
And don't you think
That I won't use it
[Chorus]
Answer me and take your time
What could be the awful crime
He could do at so young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness
Offer me some words to balance
Out what I see and what I hear
[Chorus]
All these cold and rude
Things that you do
I suppose you do
Because he belongs to you
And instead of love
And the feel of warmth
You've given him these cuts
And sores that don't heal with time or his age
[Outro]
And I want to say, "Hi"
Want to say
"What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say
"What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say
Written by: Natalie Merchant, Robert Buck
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