John Mellencamp
Backbone
[Verse 1]
As the days grow a little bit shorter
And our sights grow dim
It seems to matter to me
The lies we've been fed
The corruption and the hatred
We've lived through our whole lives
Will haunt us forever
Morning, noon and night

[Chorus]
Let me lean on my backbone
So I'll still have my pride
When they lay me down
To die

[Verse 2]
Well, I've been here on this Earth
Seventy odd years
Seen the best and the worst
That we have here
I've loved and I've won
But lost most of the time
I hope there was happiness
I could share sometime
[Chorus]
Let me lean on my backbone
So I'll still have my pride
When they lay me down
To die

[Verse 3]
Well, the truth has always been
Right here in front of my nose
Plain truth is something
That's very hard to know
I have myself to blame
For covering my ears and my eyes
And ignoring the truth
Every time I've lied

[Chorus]
Let me lean on my backbone
So I'll still have my pride
When they lay me down
To die

[Verse 4]
So, in conclusion
At the end of it all
I hope I've learned something
Probably nothing at all
And that's about as good
As one's life can get
So I'll try to be better
With what time I have left
[Chorus]
Let me lean on my backbone
So I'll still have my pride
When they lay me down
To die
When they lay me down here
To die