Elvis Costello - Why Can’t A Man Stand Alone lyrics

Why can't a man stand alone? <br>Must he be burdened by all that he's taught to consider his own? <br>His skin and his station, his kin and his crown, his flag and his nation<br>They just weigh him down<br>You know pride is a sin that we tend to forgive<br>But it gets hard to live<br>When you don't have the love in her heart to begin with<br>Why can't a man stand alone? <br><br>Why can't a woman be just what she seems? <br>Must she be tarnished by men who can only be men in their dreams? <br>When beauty meets ignorance they shout in the street<br>Repeating their offer to each girl they meet<br>The respect that she needs, it isn't a gift<br>But it gets hard to lift yourself up<br>When you don't have the strength to begin with<br>Why can't a woman stand alone? <br><br>Why can't a baby sleep at night and dream of the time to come<br>And never fear the world outside the touch of someone very near<br>Why can't a man stand up? <br>Why can't a man stand up? <br>Why can't a man stand alone?