Loudon Wainwright Iii - A Father And A Son lyrics

When I was your age I was just like you And just look at me now; I'm sure you do But your grandfather was just as bad And you should have heard him trash his dad Life's no picnic, that's a given My mom's mom died when my mom was seven My mom's father was a tragic guy But he was so distant and nobody knows why Now, your mother's family, you know them Each and every one a gem Each and every one a gem When I was your age I was a mess On a bad day I still am, I guess I think I know what you're going through Everything changes but nothing is new And I know that I'm miserable; can't you see? I just want you to be just like me Boys grow up to be grown men And then men change back into boys again You're starting up and I'm winding down Ain't it big enough for us both in this town? Say it's big enough for us both in this town When I was your age I thought I hated my dad And that the feeling was a mutual one that we had We fought each other day and night I was always wrong; he was always right But he had the power and he needed to win His life half over, mine about to begin I'm not sure about that Oedipal stuff But when we were together it was always rough Hate is a strong word; I want to back-track The bigger the front, then the bigger the back The bigger the front, then the bigger the back Now you and me are me and you And it's a different ballgame though not brand-new I don't know what all of this fighting is for But we're having us a teenage/middle-age war I don't want to die and you want to live It takes a little bit of take and a whole lot of give It never really ends though each race is run This thing between a father and a son Maybe it's power and push and shove Maybe it's hate but probably it's love Maybe it's hate but probably it's love