You've Got to Be Carefully Taught / Children Will Listen - Mandy Patinkin

You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear

You’ve got to be taught from year to year

It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear

You’ve got to be carefully taught

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late

Before you are six or seven or eight

To hate all the people your relatives hate

You’ve got to be carefully taught

Careful the things you say, children will listen

Careful the things you do, children will see and learn

Children may not obey but children will listen

Children will look to you for which way to turn

To learn what to be, careful before you say

Listen to me, children will listen

How can you say to a child who’s in flight

«Don't slip away», and, «I won’t hold so tight»?

What can you say that no matter how slight

Won’t be misunderstood?

What do you leave to your child when you’re dead?

Only whatever you put in its head

Things that your mother and father had said

Which were left to them too

Careful what you say, children will listen

Careful you do it too, children will see and learn

Oh, guide them but step away, children will glisten

Temper with what is true and children will turn

If just to be free, careful before you say

Listen to me, children will listen, children will listen

Children, children will listen