THE JOKE

You’re feel ing nerv ous, aren’t you, boy,

with your qui et voice

and im pec ca ble (D)style?

Don’t let them ev er steal your joy,

and your gen tle ways

that keep ’em from run ning wild.

They can kick dirt in your face,

(Am)dress you down, and tell you that your place is in the (G)mid dle, when they hate the way you shine.

I see you tug ging on your shirt,

tryin’ to hide in side of it, and hide how much it hurts.

Let ’em laugh

while they can.

Let ’em (G)spin,

let ’em (Gm)scat ter in

the wind.

I have been to the mov ies, I’ve seen how it ends,

and the joke’s

on

them.

You get dis cour aged, don’t you, girl?

It’s your broth er’s world

for a while long er.

We got ta (D)dance with the dev il on a riv er to beat the stream.

Call it “liv ing the dream,”

call it “kick ing the lad (D)der.”

They (D)come to kick dirt in your face, to (Am)call you weak and then dis place you, af ter (G)car ry ing your ba by on your back a cross the des ert.

I saw your eyes be hind your hair,

and you’re look ing tired,

but you don’t look scared.

Let ’em laugh

while they can.

Let ’em (G)spin,

let ’em (Gm)scat ter in

the wind.

I have been to the mov ies, I’ve seen how it ends,

and the joke’s

on

them.

Let ’em laugh

while they can.