Those Days Are Over

those days are over
the days of men and boys
dressing up to go outside
and merely play football

those days are over
the days when musicians
got down on their knees
and sang their hearts out

those days are over
the days of women and girls
smiling at the world
and just being happy

those days are over
the days when life
was simple and great
and it mattered
how hard you tried
not how hard you tried not to try

those days are over
the days when respect was in style
and love was forbidden and sweet
and it was important
how much you believed
not how much you rebelled

i never experienced those days
but i must say,
i would like to