Lyrics

There once was a boy of peculiar grace A dangerous existence for a man of his race A Black boy from a lawless town Where everyone carries a gun He carried shame in a holster 'round his waist A boy of peculiar grace Manhood lost and not found 'til now Dreams that kept him awake Isolated by strange desires Half-formed, not embraced A graceful boy in a dangerous place Alone, a subject of curiosity For the old folks to speculate What wrong with that boy? A stranger in his hometown An oddity, the butt of a joke A hurt that can't be erased The South is no place For a boy with peculiar grace You'll go north, you'll make your way Nothing can stop you, no reason to stay The South is no place For a boy with peculiar grace