Could Change the World

I heard a song today
That hit me through the heart
I thought: “Oh, this sings the truth.
This is a song that could change the world.
This song could spark people to act,
Cause them to fix all that’s wrong,
Consider if they like this capitalism or not,
Consider if this so-called culture is right.
If not, as this song suggests,
We all may as well be dead.
My god, my god,
They’d certainly act
Could change things for the better;
And I, no doubt,
Would join in the fight!”

Then I learned the song I heard
Was a new version of words
Sung over thirty years ago.
This struck me harder than the song.

I demand a movement,
A change,
A difference to be made!
I tire of all these apathetic trends
Where nothing is learned and nothing goes on.
We focus on who one could be,
Instead of who they are.
We think of what they could do,
And ignore their achievements won.
We say we care,
But most don’t dare cause sparks.
No one wants to touch the fire.
Do they not see us crumbling to ashes?

“When did the flame take away our feeling?
Why didn’t anyone put out the flames?”
That’s what they’d say
And I’d say it hasn’t been lit.
It went out long ago,
Before any time that I could know.

But who am I to judge?
I am just like them.
I don’t want to cause trouble,
And what could I do?
I am only one person.
If this song failed before,
Why ever would it work now?
Who would follow me if I dared?
Who would even consider?
I should be content with how thing are.
Let’s not make them worse
By trying to fix it and failing.

So I go back to listening
To the song that could change the world…
But hasn’t.