When I picture my hometown

    There’s a bronze, spray-tanned statue of you

    And a plaque underneath it

    That threatens to push me down the stairs at our school

    And it was always the same searing pain

    But I dreamed that one day I could say

    All that time you were throwin' punches

    I was buildin' somethin'

    And I can’t forgive the way you made me feel

    Screamed, ‘**** you aIMee’ to the night sky

    As the blood was gushin'

    But I can’t forget the way you made me heal

    And it wasn’t a fair fight

    Or a clean Kill

    Each time that aIMee stomped across my grave

    And then she wrote headlines

    In the local paper laughing at each baby step I'd take

    And it was always the same searing pain

    But I prayed that one day I could say

    All that time you were throwin' punches

    I was buildin' somethin'

    And I couldn’t wait to show you it was real

    Screamed ‘**** you aIMee’ to the night sky

    As the blood was gushin'

    But I can’t forget the way you made me heal

    Everyone knows that my mother is a saintly woman

    But she used to say she wished that you were dead

    I pushed each boulder up the hill,

    Your words are still just ringin' in my head, ringin' in my head

    I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool

    I built a legacy that you can’t undo

    But when I count the scars

    There’s a moment of truth

    That there wouldn’t be this

    If there hadn’t been you

    And maybe you’ve reframed it

    And in your mind you never beat my spirit black and blue

    I don’t think you’ve changed much

    And so I changed your name and any real defining clues

    And one day

    Your kid comes home singing

    A song that only us two is gonna know is about you

    'Cause

    All that time you were throwin' punches

    It was all for nothin'

    And our town it looks so small from way up here

    Screamed, ‘thanK you aIMee’’ to the night sky

    And the stars are stunnin'

    'Cause I can't forget the way you made me heal

    Everyone knows that my mother is a saintly woman

    But she used to say she wished that you were dead

    So I pushed each boulder up that hill,

    Your words were still just ringin' in my head, ringin' in my head

    thanK you aIMee

    thanK you aIMee