I was nearly thirty before being myself and living my truth became more important than letting other people’s judgments and actions dictate my life. Their words and actions could still hurt, but I wanted authenticity more than I feared that hurt.
I can’t imagine ever going back into the dark, lonely vault I lived in before. That’s where this song comes from. Being yourself isn’t always painless, but for me, it became worth it.
Lyrics
There are things you know before you say 'em
Things your bones already know
You can feel 'em movin' through the hollar
When the evening shadows grow
Bare feet walkin' through the pasture
Nothin' but wind against your skin
Out there naked, bullshit falls away
Ain't much room for pretendin' then
You can't look at the sun
You can't stare it down
You can stand buck naked
Under blue sky
Bare feet on honest ground
You can know who you are
Make your peace with the man
That sixty hard years put you in
But you can't look at the sun
Without feelin' it burn your skin
Heat comes rollin' off the hillside
Sweat runs easy down your back
No shirt, no shoes, no damn disguises
Nothin' there you gotta act
Swallows settle near the tree line
Last light falls across the field
You never feel more like yourself
But bein' real don't make truth easy to feel
You can't look at the sun
You can't stare it down
You can stand buck naked
Under blue sky
Bare feet on honest ground
You can know who you are
Make your peace with the man
That sixty hard years put you in
But you can't look at the sun
Without feelin' it burn your skin
Funny thing about bein' free
It don't mean nothin' hurts
You can strip off every expectation
Every shame somebody taught you first
You can let the whole damn world see you
Quit apologizin' for your skin
And still find one hard truth waitin'
That you ain't ready to let in
Authenticity ain't armor
Freedom don't make you numb
Sometimes you're most yourself
If you finally admit
You can't look at the sun
You can't look at the sun
You can't stare it down
You can stand buck naked
Under blue sky
Bare feet on honest ground
Let the wind know who you are
Let the daylight have the man
You spent sixty hard years becomin'
The bullshit falls away out there
But the truth will still burn
When it comes
You ain't hidin' from yourself
You ain't ashamed of what you've become
But bein' honest
Don't make it painless
You can't look at the sun
Without it hurtin' some