Brave Faces (McLeod)

45 miles until I get some sleep
He’s deep under the covers with his shoes kicked off his feet
Only when he’s sleeping does he rip away the smile
I’m staring underneath at the boy inside the child

All masks cracking as we lie alone
Painting all our feelings as we vanish into stone
Covering our music with our murmerings
Laughing at rejection as we feel the pull well known
Brave faces indeed.

Far too many questions set to complicate your head
Trusting in redemption as we struggle to relent
So we sit and laugh and we wipe away the smile
That once contained redemption in each gesture sound and style

Roleplay, suicidal tendencies
Putting on the uniform, we fade away to grey
First prize, computerised royalties
Sounding so familiar as they wait for new technology
Brave faces indeed.

Tear stained adoption-certificates
Laughing with relief as you shut the courtroom door.
Two-timing sycophants with cigarettes
Biting off your nails on a fucked-up Friday night
Brave faces indeed,

Brave faces indeed,
Brave faces indeed .....

(© McLeod, 1999)