They’ve Taken Away Our Song
By Jean Feldman
We used to sing and play outside.
We’d hold hands and we’d dance.
Now we do worksheets and take tests.
They’ve taken away our song.
We used to build with blocks.
We’d finger paint and play pretend games.
Now we sit and look at videos.
They’ve taken away our song.
We used to play in the sand,
Do puzzles, play chase, and swing.
Now we sit in front of computers.
They’ve taken away our song.
Grown ups used to have time to talk to us,
Sing us rhymes, tell us stories.
Now everybody’s busy on their phones.
They’ve taken away our song.
But you and I have the privilege
And responsibility, too,
Of embracing children, telling them stories,
And singing them a song or two.
So my goal and hope each day
Is to teach you a song, my friend,
That you can share with your class,
And your children will say, “Do it again!”
Give children back their song,
Laugh, and love, and play,
So when they’ve all grown up
They’ll remember their childhood in a special way.