Wake Up
from Minnesota
I first knew something was wrong when I was half my age
One night while I was singing I started to laugh
I couldn’t stop laughing for a week and a half
I’ll never forget a girl in the first row
She said But it’s not funny
I said I know
So I went to a shrink and he said to me
Just don’t drink when you’re nervous that’s the key
I said OK that sounds fine
I didn’t tell him I was nervous all the time
So I kept on drinking and I kept on thinking
Wake up you're dying now
You should be dead but you're not somehow
You think you’re being brave but you're digging a grave
You talk like a master but you live like a slave
I started meditating, that worked for a while
I spent a lot of time alone and I forgot how to smile
I went to church, I’d just sit there and stew
Thinking how can all these people believe things that aren’t true
It seems to work well for them, why can’t I
I guess it’s cause I’m special, cause I’m too smart a guy
Too smart
Wake up you're dying now
You should be dead but you're not somehow
You think you’re being brave but you're digging a grave
You talk like a master but you live like a slave
I decided that I couldn’t do it alone
And called a guy I know on the telephone
I told him all I ever wanted was to be perfect
I sure as hell don’t want to be an alcoholic
Acceptance is a doorway to hell
If you’re on the wrong side things don’t go so well
So I accepted who I am and named my disease
And finally felt relief and got down on my knees
Wake up you’re living now
You’ve been gone so long do you remember how
Just be yourself, that’s being brave
You’re not the master but you sure ain’t a slave
You’re not the master but you sure ain’t a slave