What's the Matter Here?

What's The Matter Here? - 10000 Maniacs

That young boy without a name anywhere

I'd know his face

In this city the kid's my favorite

I've seen him seen him

I see 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 their kid I stay out of it

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

I hear them every day

Threats like If you don't mind

I will beat on your behind

Slap you slap you silly

Made me say

Oh what's the matter here

I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses

He's your kid do as you see fit

But get this through

That I don't approve of what you did

To you own flesh and blood

I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses

He's your kid do as you see fit

But get this through that I don't approve

Of what you did to

You own flesh and blood

If you don't sit your garstion

I'll take this belt from around my waist

And don't think that I won't use it

Answer me and take your time

What could be the awful crime

He could do at such 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

Oh these cold and lowly 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 don't heal

With time or with age

And I want to say hi

Want to say hi

What's the Matter here

But I don't dare say

What's the Matter here

But I don't dare say