children are born

children are born of the will of the father
or at least that book says so
but anyway
what if your father says no to your whole existence
or beats you and yells
i brought you in
and i'll take you out

then wouldn't you like to have a say in the whole thing?
and where's your mother, honey?
are you lost?
let's go find your mom
because i'd like to have a word with her

children are born of the will of the mother
or at least that law says so
but anyway
what if your mother says no to your whole existence
and maybe your dad agrees
or maybe he's helpless
or maybe he doesn't even know

then wouldn't you like to have a say in the whole thing?
and where's your father, honey?
are you lost?
let's go find your dad
because i'd like to have a word with him

children are born of the will of the people
or least that country says so
but anyway
what if your government says no to your whole existence
because you're a girl
or you're second
or your parents are in a trouble of their government's devising


then wouldn't you like to have a say in the whole thing?
and where's your country, honey?
are you lost?
let's go find your people
because i'd like to have a word with them

children are born of the will that i bear
or at least i can feel that it's so
but anyway
when i was young and i read of anyone who mistreated you
who fueled their own failed rage
hid their cruelty from the neighbors
or brazenly dared anyone to do anything for you when your hurt was evident

well, can you understand that i would have liked to have had a say in the whole thing?
and where are you now, honey?
are you lost?
let's find you a home
because i can't stand to see you this way any longer

(and if only love or only fear
ever grow inside us
then what keeps you
from having home
here with all the rest?

voilition turns and
mother knows best
maybe father, too,
or maybe the hindus
have you figured, baby

and if they're right
why am i sad?
i don't know who
to cry to.


and maybe sorrow isn't the point
and maybe sorting isn't my job
i don't know how to always be right
but love
well, that i can manage
and my heart,
well, my heart
doesn't come from nowhere

children are born)