Basic Protest Song - Harry Chapin

So you’re 13 and there’s a silent scream out there

And you can hear it

Just your basic protest song

Now you’re 16 and there’s a danger in the air

And you can see it

Just your basic protest song

Turnin' 20 and it’s around you everywhere

And you can feel it

Just your basic protest song

Now your 30 and it’s to late now to care

And you can taste it

Just your basic protest song

Well, I just turned 13 don’t know what I wanna be

I don’t have much experience but I’ll tell you what I see

When I hear the record sing and baby, baby I love you

It seems to me we all got so much lovin left to do

And at 16 I don’t know to much but I’ll tell you what I do know

If you do not give a damn I’ll tell you where to go

There is something truly crazy with our patriotic song

We know to wave the flag round the week begins a strong

So you’re 13 and there’s a silent scream out there

And you can hear it

Just your basic protest song

Now you’re 16 and there’s a danger in the air

And you can see it

Just your basic protest song

Turnin' 20 and it’s around you everywhere

And you can feel it

Just your basic protest song

Now your 30 and it’s to late now to care

And you can taste it

Just your basic protest song

Oh now that I am 20 got my first full time job

My boss, upstanding citizen, finds legal ways to rob

They say forget what you believe forget what you have seen

But I know I lost the best of me when I forgot my dreams

I’m passin' on through 30 got two kids of my own

Got a wife, house, a car, and dog but still I am alone

And I’m tired of only selling cause it’s myself that I sell

I’m glad of always buying cause I can’t buy it ourselves

I know none of us is perfect I can see myself to well

If we can’t push for paradise we’re settled in for hell

So you’re 13 and there’s a silent scream out there

And you can hear it

Just your basic protest song

Now you’re 16 and there’s a danger in the air

And you can see it

Just your basic protest song

Turnin' 20 and it’s around you everywhere

And you can feel it

Just your basic protest song

Now your 30 and it’s to late now to care

And you can taste it

Just your basic protest song