Children Will Listen You've Got To Be Carefully Taught

Children Will Listen You've Got To Be Carefully Taught
What do you leave to your child when you're dead?
Only whatever you put in its head
Things that your father and mother had said
Which were left to them too
Careful what you say...
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 to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade,
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!
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!
Careful the wish you make
Wishes are children
Careful the path they take
Wishes come true
Not free
Careful the spell you cast
Not just on children
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you
Careful the tale you tell
That is the spell

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
Children will listen!
Children will listen!
You've got to be carefully taught