matthew

janis ian

footsteps on gravel at the neighborhood bar

things start to unravel

then they go too far

the sound of pain written on the wind

fades to grey and then goes dim

a boy is tied to a barbed wire fence

for the crows to ride and the claws to clench

for the sweet bouquet of blood and bone

to undermine the scent of collegiate cologne

what makes a man a man?

the cut of a coat

the hint of a tan?

it's not who you love

but whether you can

what makes a man a man?

who did he harm

what was the crime?

did he walk too lightly

did he seem too shy?

did he make them wonder deep inside?

did they feel like real men when he died?

did the waning moon look down from on high?

did the twinkling stars try to catch his eye?

did the wind caress his flesh and bone?

did they leave him there to die alone?

what makes a man a man?

the cut of a coat

the hint of a tan?

it's not who you love

but whether you can

what makes a man a man

now the stars are nailed to an empty sky

the moon is pinned like a butterfly

and i'm afraid to shine too bright

since the day they took his life

so mothers

teach your children this

don't overreach

don't run the risk

hide in the shadows

don't expect

your good heart to save your neck

what makes a man a man?

the cut of a coat

the hint of a tan?

it's not who you love

but whether you can

what makes a man a man?

Full Lyrics: matthew - janis ian