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Cover Art

Not Me Lyrics by John McCutcheon

This Fire: Politics, Love and Other Small Miracles

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Back when I was just a kid
No matter what you did
If you screwed up you stepped forward
And you took the blame
No matter where the chips would fall
You'd stand up tall
And bravely raise your hand and say your name
Oh you took your lumps
You weathered all the bumps
And you paid whatever price there was to pay
Were these lessons all for naught
Because these days if you get caught
Without a hint of shame here's what you say:
Not me
Not me!
It's somebody else's fault can't you see
In the present atmosphere
It's absolutely clear
That the buck stops miles from here
If you want to know the score
Before you get into a war
And we're asked to risk our money and our youth
Before we mount that task
It seems reasonable to ask
If your info is conclusive
Or at least the truth
And when your reason's all go bust
And you violate our trust
We know we've all been down that road before
No hint of shame upon your face
Contrition not a trace
No you'll never hear "I'm sorry" any more
Not me
Not me!
It's somebody else's fault can't you see
In the present atmosphere
It's absolutely clear
That the buck stops miles from here
If you lie or if you cheat
Better not admit defeat
Though you're caught with your fingers in the jar
It will only show you're weak
If you're penitent or meek
And those virtues just won't get you very far
'Cause in this world today
Atonement is passe and everything I've seen in life confers
Cross your fingers turn your back
Let some sucker take the flack
'Cause honesty is just a can of worms
If you're poor and on the ???
Learn a little self-control
And understand you are the reason for your fate
Knuckle down, you lazy slob
Quit complaining, get a job
And girls get married, but only if you're straight
But if you help to lead the nation
Or your own corporation
You are governed by a different set of rules
Just deny and obfuscate
Deflect and fabricate
'Cause responsibility is just for fools
Not me
Not me!
It's somebody else's fault can't you see
In the present atmosphere
It's absolutely clear
That the buck stops miles from here
Not me
Not me!
It's somebody else's fault can't you see
Stomp your foot and tear your hair
Ask me if I care
'Cause the buck stops nowhere
Credits
John McCutcheon

John McCutcheon

About “Not Me” by John McCutcheon

Read the complete lyrics to "Not Me" by John McCutcheon from the album "This Fire: Politics, Love and Other Small Miracles". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Country, Folk.

"Not Me" is performed by John McCutcheon. from the album "This Fire: Politics, Love and Other Small Miracles" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Not Me", explore more songs by John McCutcheon using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Not Me" is credited to John McCutcheon. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Not Me" appears on "This Fire: Politics, Love and Other Small Miracles".

Visit the John McCutcheon artist page at /artist/john-mccutcheon for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.