What's the Matter Here?

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In light of the Adrian Peterson story I spent the weekend with the following song lyrics in my head. The song is by the 10,000 Maniacs and was written by Jamestown's own Natalie Merchant. There was a time when Natalie was my absolute favorite songwriter and her rendition of this song, on the Unplugged record, is haunting - especially when Natalie howls, "If you don't sit in that chair straight I'll take this belt from around my waist and DON'T YOU THINK THAT I WON'T USE IT!"

What's the Matter Here?

That young boy without a name
Anywhere I'd know his face
In this city the kid's my favorite
I've seen him, I've seen him every day

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?

I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Do as you see fit
But who gave you the right
To do this?

We live on Morgan Street
Just ten feet between
And his mother, I never see her
But her screams and cussing
Well I hear them every day

Threats like:
'If you don't mind
I will beat on your behind
Slap you, slap you silly.'
It made me say
"Oh, what's the matter here?

I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Just do as you see fit
But get this through
That I don't approve
Of what you did
To your own flesh and blood

'Well 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'

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


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

And I want to say, "Hey"
I 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



Read more: 10,000 Maniacs - What's The Matter Here? Lyrics | MetroLyrics

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