By the Numbers

[couchgrouch]

By the NumbersMy daughter was painting a picture one dayit came with numbers that showed the right waybrown for the eyes, blue for the skiesand yellow for the sun's bright raysbut she was painting her way insteadshe thought the sun looked better in redthough I showed her how, she was kinda proudand didn't care that the book said,chorus it's paint by the numbers, you don't have to wonder or think for yourself one step at a time, you stay inside the lines just like ev'ryone else don't question or complain cos, Honey it's paint by the numbersI kissed her goodnight then paid bills till tenI work nine to five then do it all againbut I couldn't sleep, cos it dawned on mefor too long I'd only been living by the numbers, where I never wondered or thought for myself one step at a time, I stayed inside the lines just like ev'ryone else that's just how it is cos Mister I lived by the numbersbridgemy girl showed me her picture the next daysure enough...she'd done it her wayshe held my hand as I just stood thereminutes went by...all I did was starecos her colors shined like magical dreamsit was the prettiest thing I'd ever seenI learned from my girl, that life in this worlddoesn't always have to meanchorus living by the numbers, where you never wonder or think for yourself take your own time, make your own lines forget ev'ryone else that's just how it is if you don't wanna live by the numbers(c)2004 Robert George