10,000 Maniacs-What`s The Matter Here? lyrics

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 a
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 your own flesh and blood

I have heard 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 your own flesh and blood

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, `Hi`
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