Society's Child
Janis Ian
Come to my door, baby,
Face is clean and shining black as night.
My mother went to answer you know
That you looked so fine.
Now I could understand your tears and your shame,
She called you "boy" instead of your name.
When she wouldn't let you inside,
When she turned and said
"But honey, he's not our kind."
She says I can't see you any more, baby,
Can't see you anymore.
Walk me down to school, baby,
Everybody's acting deaf and blind.
Until they turn and say,
"Why don't you stick to your own kind."
My teachers all laugh, their smirking stares,
Cutting deep down in our affairs.
Preachers of equality,
Think they believe it,
Then why won't they just let us be?
They say I can't see you anymore baby,
Can't see you anymore.
One of these days I'm gonna stop my listening,
Gonna raise my head up high.
One of these days I'm gonna raise up my glistening wings and fly.
But that day will have to wait for a while.
Baby I'm only society's child.
When we're older things may change,
But for now this is the way they must remain.
I say I can't see you anymore baby,
Can't see you anymore.
No, I don't want to see you anymore, baby.
Share
More from Janis Ian
Ginny the Flying Girl
Janis Ian
When I Lay Down
Janis Ian
Save Somebody
Janis Ian
Paris In Your Eyes
Janis Ian
Mary's Eyes
Janis Ian
I Hear You Sing Again
Janis Ian
Billie's Bones
Janis Ian
The Come On
Janis Ian
Dead Men Walking
Janis Ian
Between The Lines
Janis Ian
Bright Lights And Promises
Janis Ian
Fly Too High
Janis Ian
When The Party's Over
Janis Ian
Light A Light
Janis Ian
Mockingbird
Janis Ian
Amsterdam
Janis Ian
Lover's Lullaby
Janis Ian
Watercolors
Janis Ian
She Must Be Beautiful
Janis Ian
When Angels Cry
Janis Ian