Hey, kids! It’s cool now to trade privacy for fame
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to reveal all your secrets
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to tattle on your friends
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to blame and frame your parents
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to trust the government

Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
Because they say so
Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
So don’t you question
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to give in

Hey, kids! It’s cool now to let them do the thinking for you
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to lay down
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to shut your fucking mouths
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to obey and submit
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to trust them

Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
Because they say so
Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
So don’t you question
Hey, kids! It’s cool now to give in

Yesterday’s kids are today’s authority and the kids of today will aspire to hold authority over the kids of tomorrow who will look back on the kids of yesterday with both admiration and hate and my question, the only question, is what will they permit and what will they deny? What hope do we have if we’re so set on fitting in and giving in? Is there any hope? If there is, it lies with the kids.

Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
Because they say so
Hey, kids! Hey, kids! It’s cool now,
So don’t you question
Don’t you, don’t you give in!
Don’t you, don’t you give in!
Don’t you, don’t you give in!
Don’t you, don’t you!

© 2011 September Garland