Around Here

Around here, we always smile and say everything's okay
doesn't matter, the tears in your eyes
or the heartache you wear on your sleeve
around here, everything is always all right.

Swallow your pain, your anger, your sorrow
let the cancer eat away at your body
you'll get more sympathy that way
even though your heart died long ago.

Give up your dreams, you'll never make it anyway
sacrifice all you are, all you have, for the good of others
no matter, they sacrifice none for you
who are you to believe otherwise?

You'll survive, day by day, night by night,
the alternative is unthinkable, un-wink-able,
we don't even recognize each other anymore
until we wake up and realize too late
that we've lived a wasted life.

Copyright © 2003 by Shawn Ann Murray