Lights up on speaker, seated in a folding chair with his legs crossed. He is slightly slouched, physically insecure and emotionally vulnerable as he addresses the audience.

I don't know why God brought us together.
I don't know why I chose to love him.
I don't know why I thought I deserved love.
I don't know how me made me feel so weak.
I don't know why I thought he was the light.
I don't know if my blood has any worth,

But I would be the whipping boy,
Just to stand there next to him.
I would be the whipping boy,
To prove the faith within.
I'd let him lay it all on me; I'd let him take it out of me,
And I would be the whipping boy,
Just to look him in the eye.
I would be the whipping boy,
To know his touch tonight.
I would be his whipping boy.

I don't know why I needed to know him.
I don't know why I felt afraid of him.
I don't know why I kept getting tongue-tied.
I don't know what I expected from him.
I don't know why he meant so much to me.
I don't know why I dared to trust again,

But I would be the whipping boy,
Just to feel his hand's abuse.
I would be the whipping boy,
To feel I have some use.
I'd let him do his worst to me; I'd let him rub pure salt on me,
And I would be the whipping boy,
Just to prove what I can take.
I would be the whipping boy,
To erase past mistakes.
I would be his whipping boy.

I know that I am not somebody who
Could ever share his soul.
I don't know what makes him proud.
I don't know what brings him shame.
I know that I am just another
Sentimental, tongue-tied fool.
Maybe I wanted too damned much.
Maybe I don't deserve love,

But I would be the whipping boy,
Just to let the dark side show.
I would be the whipping boy,
To pay what debt I owe.
I'd let him come down hard on me; I'd let him beat it out of me,
And I would be the whipping boy,
Just to clarify hindsight.
I would be the whipping boy,
To have one hour tonight.
I would be his whipping boy.

I don't know why I took that photograph.
I don't know why I thought he gave a damn.
I don't know what I ever thought he saw in me.
I don't know if he ever thought of me.
I don't know if he ever heard my voice.
I don't know if he ever read my words,

But I would be the whipping boy,
Just to watch him watch me bleed.
I would be the whipping boy,
To know how he sees me.
I'd let him name the penalty; I'd let him dehumanize me.
And I would be the whipping boy,
Just to have another chance.
I would be the whipping boy,
To know the truth at last.
I would be his whipping boy.

Lights down.
"Whipping Boy" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

• November 22, 2002 - No Shame Charlottesville
  

  Performed by John Shirley.

• March 22, 2003 - No Shame Verona
  

  Performed by John Shirley.

• October 3, 2003 - 17th Anniversary Retro-Shame in the Truck
  

  Performed by John Shirley.

• May 28, 2004 - No Shame at Piccolo Spoleto (Charleston)
  

  Performed by John Shirley.

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