Last Night’s Glitter

I used to see defeat in growing up to be less than more than a man
Cause youth and ego never show much willingness to ever understand
That your idea of being great will likely change when you've a ring upon your hand
On your hand
And you see that triumph there, might be in someone being proud to call you dad

And my history of grand romantic gestures wasn't old enough to grasp
That youth is wasted on the young, especially when it comes to romance
See the glamour and the glitz, although as inviting as it is, it never lasts. it never lasts
Like the wrinkles of our faces from our many years and pillowcases can

I've tried everything for all this bruising
But last night's glitter won't cover it

I have not battled cancer at least in the traditional sense
My war has been in a decade and a half, spent toe to toe with my regrets
Of not attending to my mother, like attentive sons in hours of need attend, need attend
I've still not found the answer, trouble is I can't surrender to it yet
See the trouble with us men, born much to close to the millennium is thus
As we became of age, we thought to ask the world, was not to ask too much
Confused ambition with our wishing, skewed our sense of what could be enough, oh enough
Of always playing Peter Pan when we long since should have grown the fuck up

The demon of doubt is circling
But last night's glitter won't hide me

In Albert's dressing room, after I sang some of my tunes, oh how I cried
Grabbing for my phone, so I could I check in with home and tell my wife
At all the times this night would mark ambitions realised, I've realised
My breakthrough's about no longer wanting breakthroughs, that aren't conceited or lies