You Should Have Known Me Then

i used to run guns and dope for a motorcycle group
it was more than a means to an end
i loved my life of crime, i'd've slit your throat for a fucking dime
you should've known me then

i'd beat the wife and kids every single chance i got
in the morning, in the evening, if they needed it or not
i'd work on them butts until their heads would spin
oh yeah, you should've known me then

oh yes you should have known me when i was in the groove
i did just like i pleased, when myself it did behoove
don't know what in the hell i was trying to prove way back when
i'm a sweetheart now, you should've known me then

i lived with a stripper and i must tell you it was great
i'd go and watch her shake that thing like jello on a plate
she'd come home from work, she'd bring a stripper friend
yeah, you should've known me then

i said yeah you should have known me 'fore i went down the tubes
every night i'd go to bed, my head between two boobs
it never was no work for me, stealing new girlfriends
i'm the love man now, you should've known me then

when i was a child, walking down the street
folks would give me money just for being cute and sweet
they do the same now that i'm a man
they go here's five bucks, go get something to eat why doncha'

ah but yeah you should have known me when i was in the pink
i was drunk all of the time, i never bought a drink
everybody hated me they're still my dearest friends
you should have known me then

i said yeah you should have known me when i had all of my teef
i was always bugging everyone, i'd give em no relief
they were dying to notify my next of kin
you should have known me then

phil lee / grm / bmi

illustration by John Sieger