PG-43: Music
7. Outside the Lines
(PG-43)
My great nephew thought I should write him a song after his grandfather told him I'd written songs for other members of the family. I agreed, then struggled for a month or two thinking about what words of wisdom I could impart to a 4-year-old. Then the grandpa that got me in this pinch got me out. I heard him tell the following story. Grandpa had scolded his daughter when she was young for not staying within the lines when coloring, and she never forgot the anguish. When my great nephew told his mama that Grandpa had scolded him too, Mama told him "It's okay, it won't hurt to color outside the lines." I immediately knew that there was the song.
LYRICS
When I was just a little boy - doing my first coloring book
An older kid laughed and said that's not the way it's supposed to look
I didn't stay inside the lines and he said that was bad
So I told my Mom I was sorry - and I hoped she wasn't mad
And she sang
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
Just because - everyone does it - doesn't mean it right
I'm sure if you'll - keep the golden rule - you're gonna do just fine
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
After my first day at school - I ran to tell my Dad
There're kids there who don't look like me - and they're hard to understand
The other kids won't play with them - So when I did was that wrong
Dad said I'd find the answer - in the words to Mamma's song
So we sang
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
Just because - everyone does it - doesn't mean it right
I'm sure if you'll - keep the golden rule - you're gonna do just fine
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
If you treat other people like you want them treating you
You won't have to wonder - what you should or shouldn't do
Remember
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
Just because - everyone does it - doesn't mean it right
I'm sure if you'll - keep the golden rule - you're gonna do just fine
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
It's okay - It won't hurt to color - outside the lines
Copyright © Aug 2007 Financial Guidance, Inc. 331 West Dixie Ave Elizabethtown, KY
Words and music: T. Michael Jones; Lead vocals: T. Michael Jones; Keyboards: Rodger Morris; Mandolin and Fiddle: Hoot Hester; Electric bass: Dow Tomlin; Drums: Steve Holland; Acoustic guitar: Bob Angello; Engineer: Skip Mitchell; Production: T. Michael Jones.