LYRIC FOR SALE

By Bernard Morris

(verse 1)
Comedy was funnier when I was just a boy
Jokes told by comedians all of us could enjoy
Songs from a long time ago today you cannot sing
Lots of times I’ve been accused of saying the wrong thing
This ism and that ism is passed round like it’s going
Out of fashion and when I look around it is snowing
With flakes of boys and girls who take offence when I say
Him or her because they think that I should have said they

(chorus)
Changes in language should not be used to build a wall
Embrace the changes the young and the old we should all
Words are words and rhymes are rhymes and a name’s just a name
You say this and I say that but we are just the same

(verse 2)
Him or her or they or it my head is in a spin
Sometimes I want to throw them all into a waste bin
Stop it stop it I just want to say to all of them
In the world there are boys and girls and women and men
It’s ok to identify yourself as whatever
I don’t care if you want to be a brick or a feather
But please don’t get angry if I misidentify
I don’t wish to cause offence I don’t want you to cry

(chorus)
Changes in language should not be used to build a wall
Embrace the changes the young and the old we should all
Words are words and rhymes are rhymes and a name’s just a name
You say this and I say that but we are just the same

(verse 3)
Where each generation’s viewpoint comes from we must try
To understand and we will for I will tell you why
For if we don’t there is no way that we’ll all get on
And the respect for each other sadly will be gone
Language norms have shifted and the old can get confused
I will be the first to admit wrong words I have used
But people from my generation have no malice
I’m sorry if I’ve mistaken Alan for Alice

(chorus)
Changes in language should not be used to build a wall
Embrace the changes the young and the old we should all
Words are words and rhymes are rhymes and a name’s just a name
You say this and I say that but we are just the same

(instrumental bridge)

(verse 4)
I understand young adulthood is a crucial time
For defining your self concept and of course that’s fine
Emotional reactivity I understand
Sorry if I caused you pain for that I hadn’t planned
We should focus on shared human connection and we
Young and old all over the world would be so happy
The old they seem to be hostile but they’re just confused
For pronouns like they and them the old have never used
Language rules are changing too fast the old can’t keep up
Let’s all get together and talk over a nice cup
Of hot tea and we’ll find that the young and old are just
The same and all show respect for each other we must

(chorus)
Changes in language should not be used to build a wall
Embrace the changes the young and the old we should all
Words are words and rhymes are rhymes and a name’s just a name
You say this and I say that but we are just the same