The Milk Was Free

You always sang that sweet old lullaby The one you used to stop me When I'd cry About the mother, selfless, pure, and true My son, did I measure the milk I gave to you? It was a lovely picture Painted bright Your perfect halo In the nursery light But did you measure the silence in the car? Did you measure the distance, just how far You'd pull away When I would disappoint? Did you measure the judgment in your voice? The milk was free, a story you would tell, But you measured all the ways you put me through hell You told the world you sacrificed and bled Kept receipts for every pair of shoes But you never kept a count inside my head Of all the bruises from the words you'd use 'Cause you'd measure the silence in the car You'd measure the distance, just how far You'd pull away when I would disappoint You'd measure the judgment in your voice The milk was free, a story you would tell, But you measured all the ways you put me through hell You gave me food, you gave me bone and skin, Mm But you rationed all the love I tried to win The milk was just a cover for the cost Of every single battle that I lost Oh, you'd measure the silence in the car You'd measure the distance, just how far You'd pull away when I would disappoint You'd measure the judgment in your voice The milk was free, a story you would tell, But you measured all the ways you put me through hell My son, did I measure the milk I gave to you? No, you measured everything else you put me through You measured my worth, my every single flaw Did you ever love me? Love me at all?