My brother nudged me on a cold winter morning He said wake up it's time to leave The sun won't be out another two hours from now I said let me go back to sleep He left me there All nice and warm Ran off to meet his friend Bags on their backs Their smiling faces Vanished around the bend Crying out I awoke mother twisting my ear She said be more like your brother In my heart how I wished I was their only son Never compared to another She loved him more Or so I thought He was the special one Her pride her joy Her golden boy Her shade in life's harsh sun Why couldn't it be me Why couldn't it be me Writing on lined pages a hundred times over I'll remember to go to school The aching of my hand bringing tears to my eyes Promised never to play the fool How could I know As I sat here He in the assembly hall Was unaware the clock struck ten And guns came over the wall Why couldn't it be me Why couldn't it be me