A memo to a higher office

Open letter to the powers-that-be

To a God, a king, a head of state

A captain of industry

To the movers and the shakers --

Can't everybody see?



It ought to be second nature --

I mean, the places where we live!

Let's talk about this sensibly --

We're not insensitive

I know progress has no patience --

But something's got to give



I know you're different --

You know I'm the same

We're both too busy

To be taking the blame

I'd like some changes

But you don't have the time

We can't go on thinking

It's a victimless crime

No one is blameless

But we're all without shame

We fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames



Folks have got to make choices --

And choices got to have voices

Folks are basically decent

Conventional wisdom would say

Well, we read about the exceptions

In the papers every day



It ought to be second nature --

At least, that's what I feel

"Now I lay me down in Dreamland" --

I know perfect's not for real

I thought we might get closer --

But I'm ready to make a deal



Today is different, and tomorrow the same

It's hard to take the world the way that it came

Too many rapids keep us sweeping along

Too many captains keep on steering us wrong

It's hard to take the heat --

It's hard to lay blame

To fight the fire -- while we're feeding the flames