The Dan Bern Lyrics Archive
One expectant mother
Strolling down the street
One prouder lady
You will never meet
The thing inside her womb
Will be named Robert or John
It won't be called Antonio, Mohammed or Juan
When the earth's been around the sun five times after he's born
He'll be sent to school one chilly September morn
Where he'll be taught to stay in line and answer the bells
And memorize the same things as everyone else
And he'll thank God for his freedom of choice
He will drive 55 all his life
He will drive 55 all his life
And he knows that the Lord hath ordained for the hordes
To drive 55 all their lives
There are 55 weeks in the year and that is best
He made the world in 55 days
And the 56th he rests
He'll watch the evening news so that he'll be in the know
Go to the art museums and he'll criticize Van Gogh
He'll see the right movies, read the right magazines
He'll be the voice of reason, you won't find him making scenes
He'll be jealous of the man whose first in line
He'll scorn the man who’s last
He'll horde for the future
He'll regret the past
Be a Republican or Democrat
By the time he's 30 he'll be married and fat
And he'll thank god for his freedom of choice
He will drive 55 all his life
He will drive 55 all his life
And he knows his dear god
Hath commanded the mob
To drive 55 all his life
All men equal
All men brothers
Praise Father Son Holy Ghost
And 52 others
One expectant mother
Strolling down the road
One expectant mother
Carrying her load
The thing inside her womb
Can become anything at all
Right now the thing inside her
Is just an enzymatic ball
Soon the thing inside will
Tear through her like a knife
Soon the thing inside will
Forge its own separate life
But now all is quiet
The child is unaware
Blissful in the fruits of prenatal care
And she'll thank god for her freedom of choice
And we all thank god for freedom of choice
