SameDiff BNL
Select from alphabetical lists: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
or Albums: BN, Gordon, MYSD, BOAPS, RS, Stunt, Maroon, Disc 1, E2E, BFTH, [MISC].

What A Good Boy

When I was born, they looked at me and said
What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.
And when you were born, they looked at you and said
What a good girl, what a what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.

We've got these chains that hang around our necks,
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,
when temptation calls, we just look away.

Chorus:
This name is the hairshirt I wear,
and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.
This song is the cross that I bear,
bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me,
be with me tonight,
I know that it isn't right,
but be with me tonight.

I go to school, I write exams,
if I pass, if I fail, if I drop out, does anyone give a damn?
And if they do, they'll soon forget,
'cause it won't take much for me to show my life ain't over yet.
I wake up scared, I wake up strange,
I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.
I wake up scared, I wake up strange
and everything around me stays the same.

Chorus

I couldn't tell you that I was wrong,
chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.
I couldn't tell you that you were right,
so instead I looked in the mirror, watched TV, laid away all night.

We've got these chains, hang 'round our necks,
people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,
when temptation calls ...

Chorus

When I was born, they looked at me and said
What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.
And when you were born, they looked at you and said
What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey.


Words by Steven Page
Music by Steven Page & Ed Robertson

Gordon (Studio Album) Gordon Version:
Andy Creeggan: Organ, piano.
Jim Creeggan: Double bass.
Steven Page: Guitar, lead vocal.
Ed Robertson: Guitars, vocals.
Tyler Stewart: Drums.
Rock Spectacle (Live Album)

Disc 1: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001)
Rock Spectacle (Live) Version:
Recorded live at either the Riviera in Chicago or the Olympia in Montreal, in Spring 1996.

Jim Creeggan: Bass guitar, double bass, vocals.
Kevin Hearn: Accordion, electric guitar, keyboards, vocals.
Steven Page: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocal.
Ed Robertson: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals.
Tyler Stewart: Drums, vocals.


I've heard so many good interpretations of this song that I'm loath to tell the real story, but suffice to say it's an idealistic twenty-one year-old's view of gender roles. However, it is one of my favorite songs to sing, and this live version restores the outro left off the Gordon version. Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas sang this with us once in New York City, and he actually did know all the words, just like he'd promised! It was pretty cool, as most musicians won't admit to knowing the words to any of our songs, never mind a more obscure ballad. Still, all I could think was "I wish I could sing this one." Meanwhile, I'm sure he was thinking "I wish Carlos Santana were here."

- Steven Page, 2001.

Jane (Single) Jane Single Version:
Recorded Live at Massey Hall, Toronto, Canada on April 4th 1993.
Recorded by James Stewart via the CFNY Discovery Music Mobile.
The Best Of Mountain Stage Volume 6 (Radio Station Live Compilation) "Mountain Stage" Version:
This version was originally performed during a concert which aired on the National Public Radio program "Mountain Stage".