That Man I Shot

by Patterson Hood

That man I shot, he was trying to kill me
He was trying to kill me, he was trying to kill me
That man I shot, I didn't know him
Was doing my job, maybe so was he

That man I shot, I was in his homeland
I was there to help him, but he didn't want me there
I did not hate him, I still don't hate him
He was trying to kill me, and I had to take him down

That man I shot, I still can see him
When I should be sleeping, tossing and turning
He's looking at me, eyes looking through me
Broke out in cold sweats when I see him standing there

That man I shot, shot not in anger
There's no denying it was in self-defense
But when I close my eyes, I still can see him
I feel his last breath in the calm dead of night

That man I shot, he was trying to kill me
He was trying to kill me, he was trying to kill me
Sometimes I wonder if I should be there
I hold my little ones until he disappears

I hold my little ones until he disappears
I hold my little ones until we disappear
And I'm not crazy, or at least I never was
But there's this big thing I can't get rid of

That man I shot, did he have little ones?
That he was so proud of? that he won't see grow up?
Was walking down his street, maybe I was in his yard
Was trying to do good, I just don't understand