Four years old
Running on concrete
Scraped my knee
Mother's telling me
Get a grip
Eight years old
Skipped my homework
Failed my tests
Father's telling me
Get a grip
Twelve years old
Other kids pointing and laughing
Hiding in the library
Teacher's telling me
Get a grip
Fourteen years old
Didn't want to go to church
Grandmother's telling me
You'll go to hell
Get a grip
Sixteen years old
Depression sinking into my mind
Crying in a corner
Best friend's telling me
Get a grip
Seventeen years old
He stopped holding my hand
Begged him not to go
My love's telling me
Get a grip
Eighteen years old
Looking in the mirror
Washing off the war paint
Telling myself
Get a grip
Twenty one years old
Standing on the old chair
Tying the leather belt
Jumping off
And losing my grip
