If I had to do it all over again
Would I be content to reply
To the question, “What do you do for a living?”
“Me?...

I just teach. It’s what I do. I know I’ve found my groove
I just teach. It’s all I do.  I’ve nothing more to prove
I just teach. I just teach

I awake primeval minds, where dormant wonders lie
Introduce tenderfoot minds  to why they wonder why
I just teach. I just teach 

Those who do can do, do
Those who can’t do, teach
Well, that’s what they say
If you think that’s true
I could teach a thing or two, too, to you

Now diagram that sentence

Let me ask you a question.
 Have you ever seen a  shy, introspective misfit
 Suddenly catch on to what makes  Shakespeare worth reading

 And then watch his writing  slowly evolve from
 Black-and-white into vivid  color? I have.

 Ever have a precocious  preteen smart ass not only
 Prove you wrong, but  replace what you thought was set in stone
 
 With an entirely new idea  using the critical-thinking skills 
 You’ve just taught her?  I have 

 Ever seen a roomful of  smug, surly faces as their
 Dim, un-inquisative eyes start to  blaze with wild, child-like fire

 When it dawns on them  all of a sudden that 
 What they call common sense is actually  complicated?

 And, for the very first time  learn to accommodate
 Inside their green  ripening little brains

 Two diametrically opposed  viewpoints as
 Perfectly  plausible!

 I have. And I wouldn’t have missed it for the world

Those who do can do what they do
I know I can do what they do too 
Let them do what they do
I do all that I can do as well
Maybe even better

I excite young appetites  and nurse them on unknowns
As they grow, I watch them fly  where no one’s ever flown
I just teach. I just teach. I just teach.

© Copyright 2025 Peter Lloyd
Music with help from Suno.com AI

I Just Teach

Songwriter since 1966. Can't believe I still have to write protest songs. Prefer writing love songs and songs of praise for stand-up women and men, parodies, lyrical nonsense, blues and adaptations.