Good Kid
Journey of Virtue: Unveiling the Paradoxes in 'Good Kid' by Justin Cooley
Lyrics
My brother played with nunchucks
Reflecting on childhood memories of the speaker's brother playing with nunchucks.
I liked playing chess
Indicating the speaker's preference for playing chess.
My brother broke the knick-knacks
Recalling instances where the brother broke knick-knacks.
I would clean the mess
Expressing the speaker's role in cleaning up the mess created by the brother.
I ate my peas and carrots
Highlighting the speaker's willingness to eat peas and carrots.
My brother never would
Contrasting the speaker's eating habits with the brother's reluctance.
And as my mother died
Revealing a significant event - the death of the speaker's mother.
I promised to be good
Expressing a promise made by the speaker to be good after the mother's death.
The good kid, the good boy, the good one
Describing the speaker as the "good kid," "good boy," and "good one."
The bookworm, the Boy Scout, the good son
Listing qualities associated with being good, such as bookworm, Boy Scout, and good son.
What has it gotten me, being good?
Pondering the outcomes of being good and questioning its value.
What has it gotten me?
Repeating the question, emphasizing the uncertainty of the benefits of being good.
My father smokes in silence
Depicting the father smoking in silence and pacing in the yard.
And paces in the yard
Contrasting the father's actions with the speaker's brother going to rehab.
My brother goes to rehab
Revealing the brother's struggle with rehabilitation.
I study twice as hard
Highlighting the speaker's dedication to studying twice as hard in response to the brother's situation.
The good kid, the good boy, the good one
Reiterating the speaker's identity as the "good kid," "good boy," and "good one."
The unseen, the unheard, the good son
Adding descriptors like "unseen" and "unheard" to the speaker's identity.
What has it gotten me, being good?
Continuing to question the value of being good.
Maybe a little bad
Suggesting the possibility that a little bad behavior could have positive effects.
Could do a lot of good
Emphasizing the potential benefits of deviating from strict goodness.
Consider Frodo Baggins
Drawing parallels with fictional characters Frodo Baggins and Robin Hood, known for their morally complex actions.
Consider Robin Hood
Continuing to explore the idea that doing a little bad could lead to overall positive outcomes.
The good kid, the good boy, the good one
Reiterating the speaker's identity as the "good kid," "good boy," and "good one."
The wrong thing, the right choice, in the long run
Introducing the concept of making the wrong choice but it being the right one in the long run.
What has it gotten me, being good?
Persisting in questioning the value of being good.
What has it gotten me, being good?
Repeating the questioning, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty.
Being good
Concluding with the overarching theme of evaluating the consequences and value of being good.
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