One to my left

Did you ever have to do the thing
You swore you'd never do?
Something filthy and impatient
Something churlish, bold and shrewd

Sit down my boy and I'll tell you
Exactly how I crawled right through
Gathering your confidence
And hear the story of a man who came undone

First you weigh up your commitments
Where your loyalties really lie
And if you bump into Jesus
You just look him in the eye

Tell him that you're fine
Silently return to sharpening your knife
And finally when the time comes
Think of who you really need
And close your eyes so tightly you think they'll bleed

Never drop your guard or let them know
The thoughts inside your head
Just do what you've always done
They'll all wish you were dead

Or crush your heart, your spirit and your soul
But keep your eyes ahead
Remember when the time comes there'll be nowhere you can hide
It'll just be you, your heart and your bruised pride

Never break the line, never click your heels in time
If your heart's anything like mine that's not the way
Don't get comfortable down there
Don't pretend that it's always fair

And your fingers crossed
And it's not your loss
So if you really want to you can stay
You can stay

Never drop your guard and let them know
The thoughts inside your head
Just do what you've always done
They'll all wish you were dead

They'll crush your heart, the spirit and your soul
But keep your eyes ahead
Then someday when your bones break
And you don't know gifts from theft
Drink yourself away one to my left

Never break the line, never click your heels in time
If your heart's anything like mine that's not the way
Don't get comfortable down there
Don't pretend that it's always fair

And your fingers crossed
And it's not your loss
So if you really want to you can stay
You can stay