Okay, I can hear people saying: “He hides what?”

This week’s song is about a guy who on the outside has a really great life. On the inside however, he is an empty shell. He can’t find any joy in what he has. To everyone else, he seems like he has it all, but he’s really hiding his true feelings.

A commonly-held belief about men is that they find it difficult to express their innermost feelings, for fear of appearing weak and vulnerable. While I think this is a generalization, I’d like to add that this song isn’t based on any one person, but on a collection of people I know.

He Hides It Pretty Well
© Music and Lyrics by Marcel Lee Pereira, 24 June, 2010

He’s 28 though he feels a lot older
Blames it on too much beer and cigarettes
He started because everyone was doing it
And he’s forgotten why

He likes happy hour conversations
They drown out all his useless thoughts
He watches football to have something to talk about
He really doesn’t care

Chorus
To everyone else he is happy
Still he feels out of place
An imposter
Sticking out like a pimple on a teenager’s face
But he hides it pretty well
Said he hides it pretty well

Alcohol dulls his borderline depression
His job pays but doesn’t satisfy
He lives out his secret fantasies online
Disgusts himself each time

He has a girl he doesn’t care that much about
But he’s afraid of being alone
He isn’t sure where he wants to go with her
She doesn’t know

Chorus
To everyone else he is happy
Still he feels out of place
An imposter
Sticking out like a pimple on a teenager’s face
But he hides it pretty well
Said he hides it pretty well

Until he finds his calling
Until he finds his place
He’ll float like a dead log the rest of his life
A smiling wooden mask over his face
But he hides it pretty well
Said he hides it pretty well

Chorus
To everyone else he is happy
Still he feels out of place
An imposter
Sticking out like a pimple on a teenager’s face
But he hides it pretty well
Said he hides it pretty well

***

P.S. I’m feeling much, much better now. Thanks to all those who asked. I’m really looking forward to this weekend! Carol’s birthday is on Sunday and I’ve planned something special for her 🙂 That’s all I’m gonna say. Till next week!