Archaic Traditions
Responsibilities
Duties
Obligations
To
Family
Others
Myself
But what comes first?
Mom says others should come first
Dad thinks family, and family honour
But sometimes, sometimes I feel selfish
And I think that I should come first
Not all the time, mind you,
Just occasionally, maybe twice a week
Do something for me first, and put everyone else second
Simply for a change of pace
I don't mind doing things for people
I admit, at times I even like it
Yet I think there's a balance between the three
With myself perhaps weighted a little more
Responsibilities
Duties
Obligations
Volunteering
Marriage
Happiness
I'm all for volunteering, it's good to help others
And there's a sense of moral obligation to do so
So, Mom's request is easily fulfilled
But Dad's? He wants a son-in-law, grand-kids
A house with a white picket fence he can boast of
A young man who's done good for himself
And had earned the right to wed me
But that conflicts with my one duty to myself
At least, the only duty I acknowledge
I don't want to be married, or even have kids
I don't want a white picket fence
I just want happiness
Sure, in time, if that leads me to a man,
That's fine, but it's neither what I want nor need now
Responsiblities
Duties
Obligations
I suppose it doesn't matter, I know how it'll end
I'll marry the boy my parents approve of
Spend my days playing house in the 'burbs
I'll shove kids out like a pan of buns in the oven
Wear a girly apron and curl my hair
I'll kiss that boy, who's not bad, per se,
He's just not what I would've liked
And when Dad comes time visit, he'll smile
He'll nod, and praise me for doing the family justice
For fulfilling my duties to the family name
And I'll nod and accept the thanks and praise
Until he leaves and I can smash the plates
Responsibilities are important, no denying it
But there are some things that are better
Left in the past, with the archaic traditions
That have been ravaged with time
Responsibilities
Duties
Obligations
Duties
Obligations
To
Family
Others
Myself
But what comes first?
Mom says others should come first
Dad thinks family, and family honour
But sometimes, sometimes I feel selfish
And I think that I should come first
Not all the time, mind you,
Just occasionally, maybe twice a week
Do something for me first, and put everyone else second
Simply for a change of pace
I don't mind doing things for people
I admit, at times I even like it
Yet I think there's a balance between the three
With myself perhaps weighted a little more
Responsibilities
Duties
Obligations
Volunteering
Marriage
Happiness
I'm all for volunteering, it's good to help others
And there's a sense of moral obligation to do so
So, Mom's request is easily fulfilled
But Dad's? He wants a son-in-law, grand-kids
A house with a white picket fence he can boast of
A young man who's done good for himself
And had earned the right to wed me
But that conflicts with my one duty to myself
At least, the only duty I acknowledge
I don't want to be married, or even have kids
I don't want a white picket fence
I just want happiness
Sure, in time, if that leads me to a man,
That's fine, but it's neither what I want nor need now
Responsiblities
Duties
Obligations
I suppose it doesn't matter, I know how it'll end
I'll marry the boy my parents approve of
Spend my days playing house in the 'burbs
I'll shove kids out like a pan of buns in the oven
Wear a girly apron and curl my hair
I'll kiss that boy, who's not bad, per se,
He's just not what I would've liked
And when Dad comes time visit, he'll smile
He'll nod, and praise me for doing the family justice
For fulfilling my duties to the family name
And I'll nod and accept the thanks and praise
Until he leaves and I can smash the plates
Responsibilities are important, no denying it
But there are some things that are better
Left in the past, with the archaic traditions
That have been ravaged with time
Responsibilities
Duties
Obligations