When I was young It seemed that life was so wonderful A miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical And all the birds in the trees Well they'd be singing so happily Oh, joyfully, oh, playfully watching me But then they sent me away To teach me how to be sensible Logical, oh, responsible, practical And they showed me a world Where I could be so dependable Oh, clinical, oh, intellectual, cynical There are times when all the world's a sleep The questions run too deep For such a simple man Won't you please, please, tell me what we've learned I know it sounds absurd Please, tell me who I am Now watch what you say Or they'll be calling you a radical A liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal Oh, won't you sign up your name We'd like to feel you're acceptable, Respectable, oh, presentable, a vegetable