You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again

Got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Calling me out when I'm wounded

You, you're always picking on the weaker man

You can take me down with just one single blow

But you don't know, what you don't know...

Chorus:


Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?


You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation

You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
I walk with my head down

Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again


I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now

'Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know, what you don't know...


Chorus:

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city

And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?
Why you gotta be so mean?


And I can see you years from now in a bar
Talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion

But nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean

All you are is mean

All you are is mean
All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life

And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

Chorus:


But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah

Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Why you gotta be so mean?
Why you gotta be so mean?
Why you gotta be so mean?

Why you gotta be so mean?
Why you gotta be so mean?