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When I was a child, I used to wonder why
Only the insects and birds knew how to fly.
Why couldn’t I?
When I waz a child, I use’ ta wunder why
I waz hungry all’a time and where my dad was!
When I was a child, my grandpa would take me to the park
And I’d see Bambi and bunnies, and I’d play until dark.
When I waz a child, my gramps werent around;
he waz long buried, his life wast’d and knott’d up by hate!
When I was a child, everyone loved me,
And told me stories of the places I’d see.
When I waz a child, ev’ry body say they luv me too,
but they luv’d theyself more, s’I grow’d up lonely.
When I was a child, I laughed a lot and I played ball in the street,
And when it got dark I’d have dinner, a bath, and sleep in clean sheets.
When I waz a child I turned to’da streets too; cept
there werent no balls, no plates, and tha knives wer fa killin.
Fear, not lauftar, kep me ‘wake nites.
When I was a child, I went to a good school and tried hard to get A’s.
And together, my parents and teachers encouraged me, gently, with praise.
When I waz a child, I hated ta read, and I didnt like no free lunch,
so I misb’haved, put ma head down, and try’d to rise above!
When I was a child, I used to dream about what I’d be—
A teacher, a doctor, a savior of all humanity!
I had dreams way back too—
til dey got stomm’d ta nut’in–
by sum’un I couldnt nev’r see.
But all dat stomppin aint stoppin me!
Understan’?
When I was a child, we vacationed out West–
And I swam in Lake Tahoe, and I saw an eagle’s nest!
And I counted down till Old Faithful leapt into the sky
And the stars, at night, were so pretty I just had to cry.
And, oh, did I mention, I loved the Badlands!
When I waz a child, we vacashun’d at da city pool–
til it closed! And I didnt haf ta travel west ta see no badlands!
When I was a child, I loved my brothers and sisters and all my friends
Cuz they helped me out when I was in trouble and had to make amends.
When I waz a child, I luv’d my bros too, cuz dey had ma back,
so I guess we got dat much in common.
