7/27, she hit me, like a 747 with the quicknessHow fast your life switchesFrom cash and nice whips to dangerous light switchesRaps and tight spit to pacifiers with dishesSanitized ’fore they go near babyHer daddy’s eyes lit up when she smiled at himGathering passerbys, quick to point out how pretty she isThe obvious, and how witty she is, she’s mine, that’s common senseCrying and throwing fits, she’s tired and won’t admitI remember as a youngin’, the times I ain’t wanna missNow I see her play, and learning so fast, it’s bittersweetShe my shining star, bright ball of energyIndependent as she can be, holding my hand and walkRather be running ahead, no plan at allCan’t stand the thought of any kind of pain ever reaching herMy weakness, the heart outside of my body beating
You wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meBut you better leave her out of it
So far gone, I’m on an island, don’t think you can reach meMy little brown-haired beauty, she really does complete meTurning two years old, and teach me more about lifeThan any teacher, preacher, guest speaker could tryBecause it’s in her eyes, caring and honest and energizedOut for fun and spending time, never to spend a dimeNever a hint of grime like some of the friends of mineNo motive except for love, so I’m devoted to tryingTo preserve the innocence while I pique her interestIn art and music, and forming sentencesShow her the limitless possibilitiesStill pondering how to tell her about the world’s atrocitiesNot to trust easy, wish I didn’t have to teach her not to play freelyKeep an eye peeled, an escape easyDaddy didn’t make the world, we wasn’t meant for itWe heaven sent, but until then I recommend
You wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meBut you better leave her out of it
I got a part of me that runs aroundSmart as me, getting her numbers downBigger than my status in the undergroundI’m at the park there to catch her if she tumbles downNo way to describe it with some verbs and a couple nounsThe highest calling, from now until my final morningTo watch her with a golden eye until the sky is fallingMind is forming thoughts for those who try at harmingDropping fire bombs on blocks and burning townsWith the entire arsonCross her, I’m flying saucers, if we a world apartTo rain down fury from the sky on who would break her heartThink you can out run a father, better take your marksBring a chart, maybe the Doc can fix what I break apartShe won’t settle, because I’ll teach her that she’s worth it allTake her out to dinner and the mall, teach her how to ballTaking over for me? Do your jobJust be honest, treat her right, and I’m a need to hear you call...
You wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meYou wanna hurt me then hurt meBut you better leave her out of it
[Scratches into the outro.]
About this song
When you were born I fell in love. A part of me and a part of your mom, in one person. Something inside me changed forever and it never changed back. I got softer. I was a girl dad now, and I was emotional, and I was proud of you in a way I hadn’t been about anything.
You were smart and funny right away. You danced to music. You slept through the night ridiculously early. You started reading early too. None of that was anything I taught you. You just showed up that way.
So my job became protecting you, and that’s what this song is.
It’s what I had to say to the rest of the world: come after me if you want, but leave her alone. It isn’t a warning, it’s a promise. It’s unspoken what would happen, because I might do unspeakable things to someone if they hurt you.
You were almost two when I wrote it. I called you my weakness at the end of the first verse and I meant it the way it sounds — you’re my heart outside of my body. If something hurts you, it hurts me. That’s scary for a dad, because I only want good things for you, and I know life doesn’t always work that way. So the song isn’t only aimed at people. It’s aimed at life itself. Any parent would take on the pain in place of their child if they could.
Your mom and I love you more than life itself. You brought us joy, you made us proud, and we could not have asked for a better daughter. I hope you already know all of that. This song is just the loud version of it.