| When I was a kid I was best at whatever I did
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| When I was a kid I was smart, at the top of the class
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| When I was a lad I was sure I had the world in my hands
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| I was my own teacher I had my own plan
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| I could have been an athlete could have trained all the time
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| Been just like the others could have left them behind
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| But I was too lazy I could not see ahead
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| All I thought of was music that was filling my head
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| I could have been a painter painting life in a rush
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| All I saw in a day on canvas with my brush
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| But I was just painting my life in a song
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| Getting all the chords right getting all the words wrong
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| I could have been a writer with a back catalogue
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| Full of stories of crimes, sex and beer, girls and drugs
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| But instead I was writing my first song so bad
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| On the cheapest guitar that the music store had
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| 'Cos instead I strummed on guitars
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| Instead I wasted my time
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| And I strummed on guitars
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| I could have been a lawyer defending some guy
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| With a paycheck so big for my heart paid to lie
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| But instead I was keeping the truth to myself
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| In the records I placed one by one on my shelf
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| I could have been a champion, man of the year
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| Wave to the crowd as they scream and cheer
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| But here I am playing to people sat down
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| Nursing their beers while I play the clown
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| And instead I strummed on guitars
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| Instead I wasted my time
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| And I strummed on guitars
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| I could have been a racing car driver speed mad
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| Seeking the thrills that my youth never had
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| But instead I was busy enjoying my age
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| With teen punk rock anthems and hearts paid to rage
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| I could have been a scientist, doctor or man
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| With a stethoscope diagnosing ladies' old hands
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| But instead I built fret-callous fingertip scars
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| On my ten year old hands meant for toy ships and cars
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| And instead I strummed on guitars
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| Instead I wasted my time
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| Strummed on guitars
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| I could have been so much
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| But I wasted my time on useless guitars
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| I could have been so much
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| But I’m not
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| And I’m glad
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| And I’m glad
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| 'Cos when I was a kid I was best at whatever I did |