Sit on my knee
Take a second son, please come and listen to me
Hop up here and take a seat upon my knee
I want to tell you of a time, seems like forever, but it’s not so long ago
When people said hello, even to those that they didn’t know
And they’d stop to lend a hand, if you fell, or were made to look like a fool
Rather than pull out their phone to Snap you and make you look like a tool
We couldn’t wait to get older, so we could get away from those good old days
See, we thought a world where no one cared about you would suit our ways
We could stay up late, eat rotten food and watch whatever we wanted till dawn
But as time marched on, before we realized all the good old days had up and gone
Highways closed small towns off, mega-companies outpriced the stores we had known
I guess we never can go home, the places we scurried to escape, the second we were grown
Have all been replaced by new buildings all made to look just like a small town
Only they’re owned by mega-companies. Those that can afford to act like they’ve been around
Buy a condo and frequent the coffee chain each day,
I guess it’s cool if you like to pretend that way.
But son I remember when people took a minute and said hello
Asking questions, waiting for answers that they’d already know
It was wrong for us to run away, but I’d be a liar if I ever tried to say
That I would do it all different if I could go back because I didn’t make it this way
And it wasn’t like this before in our little town, everything wasn’t shiny and new
People didn’t always dress for fashion, but for the most part they were nice to you
We lived a little outside of the main streets, plenty country deep in these roots
Spent plenty of time running through fields, plenty more cleaning mud from our boots
Picking fresh veggies from the garden to munch on, pulling plums off the tree
Climbing to the top of the tallest tree, just to see what you could see
Riding bikes and watching the world slowly get connected by first cable then internet
Begging my parents to get cable because you didn’t want to be the one that didn’t get
In touch with the future, keep up with the news, music from all over the globe
Then from the privacy of your living room watching crazy co-eds who disrobe
A world which once had seemed too far? Overnight Amazon had brought near
Before you knew it everybody had a cell phone pressed up against their ear
Driving over the few people left standing on the roadside to wave
Not to worry, you can always sue the ones who don’t want to behave
Yes son, I swear that crazy as it sounds, people used to smile and say hello
Friends and strangers alike would flash a grin and motion for you to go
Through a door they held open, or to go first at a traffic intersection.
Now, I know it seems some today wouldn’t even be fazed by the Resurrection!
But it can be that way again! I know it sounds like there isn’t a chance
Yet I feel I’m not alone, I think others feel that this circumstance
Could be rectified, if those around us were given an example to follow
Hold your angry tongue, breathe instead; take a deep breath and swallow
Think about the things I’ve said and give it a try yourself
Act as though you’re being watched by a Christmas elf
And as you see someone passing by, smile and say hello
Take a minute to see what your friend might know
And someday, when you’re older, pull a young one up on your knee
Tell ‘em all about those times, like the one shared now with me
Keep the things alive in your life, that bring you a smile every day
By showing the next generation, kindness is always the best way
Tim Windisch
4/30/2019
