Side by Side

Side by side

we're in a line

Sitting up straight

with lots of tape

Don't you dare stand up

or talk out of turn.

Keep silent and still

unless you want to burn

They taught us to be obedient

not to speak out loud

As kids we were conditioned

and locked in an invisible cage

But now...They say "No!

speak up

tell me something

talk about this and that

These issues we have

doesn't anyone want to fix it?"

But side by side

we're in a line

Afraid to speak of freedom

When we've already been told what we ought to do.