Ridgedale Days

Music and Lyric by David W. Jacobsen
Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved.

The boy who knew more than you ought to know
hadn't learn somethings you should not show
They beat him up and left him on his knees
pleading for mercey they would not heed
so he learned the cruelest way of all

The note she passed returned and he replied
under the desk as teacher looked away
She smiled at first until she read the words
that pierced her soul and let her faith drain out
"you are fat and ugly" he signed

On the playground, it's torture
In the classroom, it's torture
On the school bus, it's torture

No one cares about the one too shy
Wall flowers sometimes just wilt and die
from lack of light and water not so pure
poisoned by neglect they are ignored
out of sight means out of mind

She tried to say more than the teacher cared
just read the words and nothing more than that
and bind the meanings right upon your brain
never question how they got that way
do not speak unless you're called upon

On the playground, it's torture
In the classroom, it's torture
On the school bus, it's torture

They screamed at him cause he would not sit still
He moves too fast, you'd better slow him down
Pacify and make him like the rest
all zombie eyed and following the flock
walk in step, stay in line

They will laugh at you if you fall down
Everyday you fear for your balance
For if you loose your grasp and speak your mind
your so called friends will join the other side
so you'd best just never speak at all

On the playground, it's torture
In the classroom, it's torture
On the school bus, it's torture