“What can you tell me?”
The parents, they say.
“Your words are a comedy,
You have nothing to pay.
You’re just a child,
You don’t know the way,
Your life is not riled,
There’s only today.
But take my hand, child,
I’ll show you the way.”

“What do you know?”
The teachers demand.
“You’re sinking below,
You need reprimand.
You’re only a student,
You’ve no right to demand.
In your studies, be prudent,
Don’t listen to bands.
But if you’re nice, student,
I’ll give you a hand.”

“What have you seen?”
The soldiers, they cry.
“To war we have been,
As life passes you by.
Thank God you’re a kid!
Don’t let the time fly.
On your dreams, make a bid
‘Fore they wither and die.
But if you’ll just wait, kid,
I’ll help you get by.”

We know we’re still young,
That there’s much we must learn,
That on money and time we are not hung.
For many things we yearn,
But we’re smarter than we look.
You must let us churn:
Not all knowledge comes from books.
At times we’ll fail and at times we’ll burn.
If you release us from your hooks,
You may see what you once learned.