Be a Man (You Men)

A younger man looked down on me

He thought I'd met my end.

But he was more concerned with being

Everybody's friend.

I looked at him with steady eyes

He could not hold the gaze.

I laughed and shook my head and then

I told him to his face.

"You want to be a man and lead

And carry 'round your clout

And prove that you're a man the way

You always have to shout.

"Come back here and talk to me.

I'll kick you in the balls.

If you complain and cry, I'll know

you're not a man at all.

"Lead me, tell me that I'm wrong,

But do not cloy or plead

or smile, apologize or lilt,

Just be a man and lead.

"You know that I'll put up a fight,

So get yourself prepared.

You fawn and lisp, you do not speak.

Why do you act so scared?

"You bet I'm arrogant and proud,

Intimidating too.

But when you want to lead, the one

I care about is you.

"A stubborn ass you always get

whenever work is done.

If you won't be a man, you'll find

that you are leading none."