Brittle Bones Nicky – Rare Americans

Brittle Bones Nicky
He was crafty and tricky
And that son of a bitch was gold
Yeah that son of a bitch was gold

Wires got crossed when I was about 3
Dad had bloody heavy hands, used em on me
My mamma? Bless her heart, cuz she gave me a start
She got killed, bad man, dad stiffed in a scam
Grew up in the system, bounced, couple homes
This woman Mary, gifted me hand-me-down clothes
Shy at the start, till this guy named Shifty
Who had 100 pounds on me, called me “Brittle Bones Nicky”
A target aimed straight at my face
Big house of kids, cred is cake
Rounded up a couple bucks, got it freshly baked
Sat down to dinner, put it right in his face
Right in his fucking face (in his face)

You’re not gonna push me around
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)
You’re not gonna push me around (no!)
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)

Bounce ahead, couple years, king of my peers
We biked the block, cheersin’ pretty girls beers
Did alright for myself, petty thefts I pulled
I dropped outta school, built a circle of bulls
Needing more money, covered head to toe
Snuck up, sucker, took his stash, and drove
The cash stashed, pouring in
Bulk of it up my nose
How dumb I was, twenty-one
And way out of control
The cops kicked down the door
She did a line right off my (woah!)
Said “that’s one way to go down”
Knew I was hard as rock
Knew I was hard as rock (hard as rock!)

You’re not gonna push me around
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)
You’re not gonna push me around (no!)
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)

Bars, new world, who can I trust?
Killers were nice, smugglers were rough
Met a man named Ben, quite sharp and witty
Gave me books, ’bout money and cities
Taught me ropes, only years coulda gained
Looked out for each other, M.O.’s the same
That night I heard Ben, turning 50 in May
Yellin’ so loud, two decades we aged
Found him cornered, pants down, shanked
Didn’t even think twice, man I barely blinked
(I barely blinked, I barely blinked)

If it cost me my life man, I’d save my only friend
That’s something I could live with
I could take that ’til the end
If it cost me my life man, I’d save my only friend
That’s something I could live with
I could take that ’til the end (hey!)

You’re not gonna push me around
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)
You’re not gonna push me around (no!)
You can’t get me down, down, down (down!)

Now every morning, coffee, park
Walking around the city, deals light or dark
I’m straight edge as a punk
Well mannered, and I feel free
Tried to do what I thought was best
And that’s coming to the grave with me
As I lay here in my final nights, I try to have a laugh
I didn’t win the game of life
But I’d give myself a pass