if you wake up early enough in Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Philadelphia the sky will be purple and nothing will
the sky will be purple and nothing will
the sky will be purple and nothing will hurt
there’ll be no sirens blaring no babies
there’ll be no sirens blaring no babies crying
crying
crying no despair on the horizon your soul just
no despair on the horizon your soul just
no despair on the horizon your soul just might feel alive
my name is Brayton Bowman
my name is Brayton Bowman I am 23 years old and I worry
I am 23 years old and I worry
I am 23 years old and I worry too much when I was younger I used to do
too much when I was younger I used to do
too much when I was younger I used to do everything that you’re supposed to don’t
everything that you’re supposed to don’t
everything that you’re supposed to don’t know when everything got so out of hand
know when everything got so out of hand
know when everything got so out of hand like oops I dropped out of college and
like oops I dropped out of college and
like oops I dropped out of college and chose hot beats over book knowledge
chose hot beats over book knowledge
chose hot beats over book knowledge anyway the wind blows I gotta do me
anyway the wind blows I gotta do me
anyway the wind blows I gotta do me that’s how the story goes and I wish I
that’s how the story goes and I wish I
that’s how the story goes and I wish I could figure out how to let go
could figure out how to let go
could figure out how to let go ohh my doubts I’m the only thing in my
ohh my doubts I’m the only thing in my
ohh my doubts I’m the only thing in my way standing in my way
I mess up I up it’s a nightmare
I mess up I up it’s a nightmare even when I’m strong sometimes I’m
even when I’m strong sometimes I’m
even when I’m strong sometimes I’m scared that I’m never gonna make it
scared that I’m never gonna make it
scared that I’m never gonna make it anyway
I worry too much I’ll worry too much
I worry too much I’ll worry too much thinking about that don’t matter
thinking about that don’t matter
thinking about that don’t matter really cuz none of that really
really cuz none of that really
really cuz none of that really matters in Philly and I don’t know where
matters in Philly and I don’t know where
matters in Philly and I don’t know where I belong
I belong
I belong but I’ll keep on writing these songs
but I’ll keep on writing these songs
but I’ll keep on writing these songs sing along I worry too much I worry too
sing along I worry too much I worry too
sing along I worry too much I worry too much thinking about that don’t
much thinking about that don’t
much thinking about that don’t matter really cuz none of that
matter really cuz none of that
matter really cuz none of that really matters in Philly and I don’t
really matters in Philly and I don’t
really matters in Philly and I don’t know where I belong but I’ll keep on
know where I belong but I’ll keep on
know where I belong but I’ll keep on writing these songs
make some noise for a friend of mine
make some noise for a friend of mine named Dylan day one time y’all I’m sure
named Dylan day one time y’all I’m sure
named Dylan day one time y’all I’m sure that many of you are wondering at this
that many of you are wondering at this
that many of you are wondering at this stage in the game why there is a singing
stage in the game why there is a singing
stage in the game why there is a singing redhead in sweatpants on stage all of a
redhead in sweatpants on stage all of a
redhead in sweatpants on stage all of a sudden and to be quite honest with you I
sudden and to be quite honest with you I
sudden and to be quite honest with you I don’t know the answer to that question
don’t know the answer to that question
don’t know the answer to that question my manager now we’re talking about stage
my manager now we’re talking about stage
my manager now we’re talking about stage I swore today was an April Fool’s joke I
I swore today was an April Fool’s joke I
I swore today was an April Fool’s joke I thought I was gonna get here never like
thought I was gonna get here never like
thought I was gonna get here never like just kidding you’re gonna talk to some
just kidding you’re gonna talk to some
just kidding you’re gonna talk to some dude named Ted but it’s not really a TED
dude named Ted but it’s not really a TED
dude named Ted but it’s not really a TED talk it was not a joke I’m here I’m on
talk it was not a joke I’m here I’m on
talk it was not a joke I’m here I’m on the stage I have to speak so
the stage I have to speak so
the stage I have to speak so we’re gonna go with it
we’re gonna go with it
we’re gonna go with it in all seriousness guys I am humbled
in all seriousness guys I am humbled
in all seriousness guys I am humbled beyond belief to be here today back in
beyond belief to be here today back in
beyond belief to be here today back in the City of Brotherly Love and I really
the City of Brotherly Love and I really
the City of Brotherly Love and I really hope that by some miracle I managed to
hope that by some miracle I managed to
hope that by some miracle I managed to say something of Merit I haven’t really
say something of Merit I haven’t really
say something of Merit I haven’t really yet mastered the art of public speaking
yet mastered the art of public speaking
yet mastered the art of public speaking but bear with me and I’m gonna try to
but bear with me and I’m gonna try to
but bear with me and I’m gonna try to behave but that’s mostly just cuz my
behave but that’s mostly just cuz my
behave but that’s mostly just cuz my mama is here she’s somewhere if she
mama is here she’s somewhere if she
mama is here she’s somewhere if she starts to cry give her a tissue I’m sure
starts to cry give her a tissue I’m sure
starts to cry give her a tissue I’m sure that the ebb and flow of my voice right
that the ebb and flow of my voice right
that the ebb and flow of my voice right now makes you think that I’m about to
now makes you think that I’m about to
now makes you think that I’m about to tell you the dramatic story of my life
in case you can’t see this obnoxious
in case you can’t see this obnoxious thing behind me
thing behind me
thing behind me my name is Brayton Bowman we’re gonna
my name is Brayton Bowman we’re gonna
my name is Brayton Bowman we’re gonna keep it brief I was born on August
keep it brief I was born on August
keep it brief I was born on August Friday the 13th in the summer of 93 down
Friday the 13th in the summer of 93 down
Friday the 13th in the summer of 93 down the street in Pennsylvania Hospital I
the street in Pennsylvania Hospital I
the street in Pennsylvania Hospital I grew up on the other side of the river
grew up on the other side of the river
grew up on the other side of the river in South Jersey and somehow I made it
in South Jersey and somehow I made it
in South Jersey and somehow I made it here hmm
my childhood was like not the best it’s
my childhood was like not the best it’s kind of a show so we’re gonna skip
kind of a show so we’re gonna skip
kind of a show so we’re gonna skip over the scrapbook of my adolescence and
over the scrapbook of my adolescence and
over the scrapbook of my adolescence and we’re gonna try to live in the now this
we’re gonna try to live in the now this
we’re gonna try to live in the now this past couple weeks everybody I know so
past couple weeks everybody I know so
past couple weeks everybody I know so like oh my god bring in what do you
like oh my god bring in what do you
like oh my god bring in what do you wanna talk about a TED talk and I’m like
wanna talk about a TED talk and I’m like
wanna talk about a TED talk and I’m like I really don’t
I really don’t
I really don’t oh yeah stop asking me my roommate and I
oh yeah stop asking me my roommate and I
oh yeah stop asking me my roommate and I started to talk about the idea of me
started to talk about the idea of me
started to talk about the idea of me telling a story about one of my
telling a story about one of my
telling a story about one of my corrective orthopedic surgeries my mom
corrective orthopedic surgeries my mom
corrective orthopedic surgeries my mom and I have this really weird bone
and I have this really weird bone
and I have this really weird bone disease called distal or thro grossest
disease called distal or thro grossest
disease called distal or thro grossest and you probably can’t tell from this
and you probably can’t tell from this
and you probably can’t tell from this stage but I’m legally handicapped
stage but I’m legally handicapped
stage but I’m legally handicapped there’s a really way to sugarcoat it
there’s a really way to sugarcoat it
there’s a really way to sugarcoat it going to elementary school in a
going to elementary school in a
going to elementary school in a wheelchair is not fun but I
wheelchair is not fun but I
wheelchair is not fun but I don’t feel like talking about hospitals
don’t feel like talking about hospitals
don’t feel like talking about hospitals today there’s a bunch of doctors I’m
today there’s a bunch of doctors I’m
today there’s a bunch of doctors I’m gonna let them talk about hospitals I
could tell you a poetic vignette about
could tell you a poetic vignette about my mom’s battle with addiction and how
my mom’s battle with addiction and how
my mom’s battle with addiction and how it shaped me as a young man and it
it shaped me as a young man and it
it shaped me as a young man and it changed me for the better and I could
changed me for the better and I could
changed me for the better and I could once and for all present to you the
once and for all present to you the
once and for all present to you the notion of my existence in a way that
notion of my existence in a way that
notion of my existence in a way that proves that I am the resilient child of
proves that I am the resilient child of
proves that I am the resilient child of a sober alcoholic please clap for my
a sober alcoholic please clap for my
a sober alcoholic please clap for my mommy all cuz I love her to
mommy all cuz I love her to
mommy all cuz I love her to death
or I could tell you about this
or I could tell you about this ridiculous horrifically homogenous town
ridiculous horrifically homogenous town
ridiculous horrifically homogenous town that I grew up in in South Jersey where
that I grew up in in South Jersey where
that I grew up in in South Jersey where the jocks and the popular girls used to
the jocks and the popular girls used to
the jocks and the popular girls used to call me a under their breath because I
call me a under their breath because I
call me a under their breath because I wore skinny jeans and I had somewhat of
wore skinny jeans and I had somewhat of
wore skinny jeans and I had somewhat of a sense of a style for an 11-year old
a sense of a style for an 11-year old
a sense of a style for an 11-year old but I don’t really want to talk about
but I don’t really want to talk about
but I don’t really want to talk about that today either I wanted to take a
that today either I wanted to take a
that today either I wanted to take a second and talk to you guys about
second and talk to you guys about
second and talk to you guys about listening as ironic as that may seem as
listening as ironic as that may seem as
listening as ironic as that may seem as you’re all sitting here attentively
you’re all sitting here attentively
you’re all sitting here attentively listening to me preaching to the choir I
listening to me preaching to the choir I
listening to me preaching to the choir I think that’s what it’s called
think that’s what it’s called
think that’s what it’s called I spent the greater half of my young
I spent the greater half of my young
I spent the greater half of my young adult life dying to be heard desperate
adult life dying to be heard desperate
adult life dying to be heard desperate to feel like anybody understood me or
to feel like anybody understood me or
to feel like anybody understood me or even gave a about what was coming
even gave a about what was coming
even gave a about what was coming through my vocal cords out of my mouth
through my vocal cords out of my mouth
through my vocal cords out of my mouth and I think at some level that’s why I
and I think at some level that’s why I
and I think at some level that’s why I started to make music I didn’t know what
started to make music I didn’t know what
started to make music I didn’t know what to do with this burning urge to be heard
to do with this burning urge to be heard
to do with this burning urge to be heard so I started this thing as a young
so I started this thing as a young
so I started this thing as a young person with disabilities I spent hours
person with disabilities I spent hours
person with disabilities I spent hours that turn into days that turn into weeks
that turn into days that turn into weeks
that turn into days that turn into weeks turn into months it may be a year in
turn into months it may be a year in
turn into months it may be a year in total in hospitals with these brilliant
total in hospitals with these brilliant
total in hospitals with these brilliant brilliant doctors that would look at me
brilliant doctors that would look at me
brilliant doctors that would look at me and diagnose me pity me like a helpless
and diagnose me pity me like a helpless
and diagnose me pity me like a helpless animal granted but all I wanted was for
animal granted but all I wanted was for
animal granted but all I wanted was for someone to look at me in the eyeballs
someone to look at me in the eyeballs
someone to look at me in the eyeballs and listened to me and asked me how I
and listened to me and asked me how I
and listened to me and asked me how I felt I’m not perfect though I have to
felt I’m not perfect though I have to
felt I’m not perfect though I have to get better at listening this past year
get better at listening this past year
get better at listening this past year has taught me more than anything to shut
has taught me more than anything to shut
has taught me more than anything to shut my mouth and listen when I come in
my mouth and listen when I come in
my mouth and listen when I come in contact with a transgendered or a
contact with a transgendered or a
contact with a transgendered or a transitioning or a transitioned human
transitioning or a transitioned human
transitioning or a transitioned human being because I am a 23 year old openly
being because I am a 23 year old openly
being because I am a 23 year old openly gay man and I don’t know anything
gay man and I don’t know anything
gay man and I don’t know anything there’s so much that I stand to learn
there’s so much that I stand to learn
there’s so much that I stand to learn about this community that is like
about this community that is like
about this community that is like tragically misunderstood and in so many
tragically misunderstood and in so many
tragically misunderstood and in so many ways misrepresented and what about race
ways misrepresented and what about race
ways misrepresented and what about race in my mind so much of what has caused
in my mind so much of what has caused
in my mind so much of what has caused this horrific climate for people of
this horrific climate for people of
this horrific climate for people of color in his country is the fact that
color in his country is the fact that
color in his country is the fact that white people are afraid to shut up and
white people are afraid to shut up and
white people are afraid to shut up and who the came up with all lives
who the came up with all lives
who the came up with all lives matter why is the Caucasian populace of
matter why is the Caucasian populace of
matter why is the Caucasian populace of America so petrified for once in our
America so petrified for once in our
America so petrified for once in our life to sit down shut up and listen I
don’t know how it’s possible for a young
don’t know how it’s possible for a young woman of color in this country to go
woman of color in this country to go
woman of color in this country to go missing outside of our nation’s capital
missing outside of our nation’s capital
missing outside of our nation’s capital and we do not send out a mother
and we do not send out a mother
and we do not send out a mother Amber Alert to look for her we must
Amber Alert to look for her we must
Amber Alert to look for her we must start to listen to each other we have to
start to listen to each other we have to
start to listen to each other we have to I am NOT a public speaker as I said I
I am NOT a public speaker as I said I
I am NOT a public speaker as I said I have no idea how to end this speech so
have no idea how to end this speech so
have no idea how to end this speech so I’m going to shut up do us both a favor
I’m going to shut up do us both a favor
I’m going to shut up do us both a favor and sing a song it’s my hope that the
and sing a song it’s my hope that the
and sing a song it’s my hope that the lyrics of this song will make you
lyrics of this song will make you
lyrics of this song will make you realize how much of a normal human being
realize how much of a normal human being
realize how much of a normal human being I am I don’t know how fancy this TED
I am I don’t know how fancy this TED
I am I don’t know how fancy this TED talk looks from out there it’s really
talk looks from out there it’s really
talk looks from out there it’s really sweaty up on stage and this talk might
sweaty up on stage and this talk might
sweaty up on stage and this talk might wind up getting 10 views on YouTube it
wind up getting 10 views on YouTube it
wind up getting 10 views on YouTube it could get 10 million views on YouTube I
could get 10 million views on YouTube I
could get 10 million views on YouTube I just want you to know that I’m a normal
just want you to know that I’m a normal
just want you to know that I’m a normal person just like you guys and we all
person just like you guys and we all
person just like you guys and we all need to be heard so why not start with
need to be heard so why not start with
need to be heard so why not start with listening my name is Brayton Bowman and
listening my name is Brayton Bowman and
listening my name is Brayton Bowman and this is a song I wrote called the second
this is a song I wrote called the second
this is a song I wrote called the second I’m rich me and my friends second I’m
I’m rich me and my friends second I’m
I’m rich me and my friends second I’m rich best believe homage at the out
rich best believe homage at the out
rich best believe homage at the out like every weekend second I’m rich I’m a
like every weekend second I’m rich I’m a
like every weekend second I’m rich I’m a payoff my mama’s dead and it ain’t no
payoff my mama’s dead and it ain’t no
payoff my mama’s dead and it ain’t no sweat
sweat
sweat but I ain’t finished it cuz the second
but I ain’t finished it cuz the second
but I ain’t finished it cuz the second I’m rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy
I’m rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy
I’m rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy they dream about diamond rings cuz right
they dream about diamond rings cuz right
they dream about diamond rings cuz right now I don’t have a thing to mine and
now I don’t have a thing to mine and
now I don’t have a thing to mine and I’ve been wondering when I’m gonna get
I’ve been wondering when I’m gonna get
I’ve been wondering when I’m gonna get my imagination it stuck with me so I can
my imagination it stuck with me so I can
my imagination it stuck with me so I can give it back for me and my friends
give it back for me and my friends
give it back for me and my friends [Music]
because the movies will be old news
because the movies will be old news because ii i’m rich i’ma buy me a bigger
because ii i’m rich i’ma buy me a bigger
because ii i’m rich i’ma buy me a bigger house for me and my friends second I’m
house for me and my friends second I’m
house for me and my friends second I’m rich better believe I’m a jet the
rich better believe I’m a jet the
rich better believe I’m a jet the out like every weekend in the second
out like every weekend in the second
out like every weekend in the second half which my mama’s dead no sweat
half which my mama’s dead no sweat
half which my mama’s dead no sweat finished because the second I’m rich I’m
finished because the second I’m rich I’m
finished because the second I’m rich I’m gonna do a bunch of crazy I was
gonna do a bunch of crazy I was
gonna do a bunch of crazy I was lying I have one more thing to talk
lying I have one more thing to talk
lying I have one more thing to talk about I dropped out of college
about I dropped out of college
about I dropped out of college as I told you but I’m sure that some of
as I told you but I’m sure that some of
as I told you but I’m sure that some of the students in this audience have
the students in this audience have
the students in this audience have student loan debt just like I do
student loan debt just like I do
student loan debt just like I do can we make noise if we have student
can we make noise if we have student
can we make noise if we have student loan debt if you’re still in school you
loan debt if you’re still in school you
loan debt if you’re still in school you don’t know this yet but Sallie Mae will
don’t know this yet but Sallie Mae will
don’t know this yet but Sallie Mae will start to call you every day every single
start to call you every day every single
start to call you every day every single day I have about eighty thousand dollars
day I have about eighty thousand dollars
day I have about eighty thousand dollars in student loan debt I have no idea how
in student loan debt I have no idea how
in student loan debt I have no idea how I’m gonna pay it off please wish me luck
I’m gonna pay it off please wish me luck
I’m gonna pay it off please wish me luck but I have been saying to my friends
but I have been saying to my friends
but I have been saying to my friends that are in this audience and I went to
that are in this audience and I went to
that are in this audience and I went to high school with since day one that rich
high school with since day one that rich
high school with since day one that rich imma buy me a bigger house for me and my
imma buy me a bigger house for me and my
imma buy me a bigger house for me and my friends rich better believe I’m a
friends rich better believe I’m a
friends rich better believe I’m a Gentile out like every week and
Gentile out like every week and
Gentile out like every week and then the second I’m rich i’ma pay off my
then the second I’m rich i’ma pay off my
then the second I’m rich i’ma pay off my mama’s net and it ain’t no sweat but I
mama’s net and it ain’t no sweat but I
mama’s net and it ain’t no sweat but I ain’t finished yet cuz the second I’m
ain’t finished yet cuz the second I’m
ain’t finished yet cuz the second I’m rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy thank
rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy thank
rich i’ma do a bunch of crazy thank you guys
”
Be First to Comment