Slight Figure Of Speech Lyrics

They say you've got to lose a couple fights to win
It's hard to tell from where I'm sitting
They say that this is where the fun begins
I guess it's time that I was quitting
[ Lyrics from: http://www.cloverlyrics.com/e49522-the_avett_brothers~slight_figure_of_speech_lyrics.html ]
A slight figure of speech
I cut my chest wide open
They come and watch us bleed
Is it art like I was hoping now?

They said "I hope that you will never change"
I went and cut my hair
They say "Don't take your business to the big time"
I bought us tickets there

A slight figure of speech
I cut my chest wide open
They come and watch us bleed
Is it art like I was hoping now?

What did you expect
And what did you forget
That to live you let go of me with each step
It becomes a progression I won't let regret manifest
To aggression
Are you to assess what I've been? What I am? Or become?
Did you stop to accept how pathetically dumb
It can be to
Attack those around 'cause you're
True to color, a town, a time, or a place?
It's not you, it's not mine
And besides it is gone
And you never will find it again
But I don't want to fight
I just ask let me be
I won't give the chance to be my enemy
So go home
Think it through

A jet plane and a big idea
I jump over the sea
What ifs hot on my trail
But that can't catch me, no

A slight figure of speech
I cut my chest wide open
They come and watch us bleed
Is it art like I was hoping now?