when Michael Jackson was innocent

life was so much simpler

when Michael Jackson was innocent

we all danced to Thriller

and sang along with the Jackson 5

we had fun with vinyl records

and we knew what every word meant

back in the 1980s

back when Michael Jackson was alive

I had my future before me

when Michael Jackson was innocent

back in the old days

when I played "I'll be There" on guitar

I would sing along with him

with high passion and intent

back in the 1980s

when Michael Jackson was a star

          why does life

          always change for the worse

          I don't know if time

          is a blessing or a curse

Oh, to be back in the day

when Michael Jackson was innocent

it seemed like we all had promise

even though it wasn't true

but now we worry about mental health

and how we're gonna pay the rent

back in the 1980s

when Michael Jackson lived in you

one good reason

I am not jealous of you

I don't think

I'm just in a sea of discontent

I'm going to sink

everything has gone wrong

for so long

that I can't see up

everything I've had

is so bad

I've had enough

all I need is one good thing

to happen to me right now

I just need to gain some speed

but I don't know how

everything just sucks

and I'm fucked

I don't know where I stand

everything I have lost

I've paid the cost

for who I am

          just give me one good reason

          to stick around

          I'm just looking for something

          I've never found

I don't want answers

I just need to breathe

I'm not sure of anything

that I believe

everything has turned upside down

but I'm around

to carry the burden

I just don't know

where I should go

my heart is hurting

          just give me one good reason

          to stick around

          I'm still looking for something

          I've never found

sorry for myself

I could feel sorry for myself

I could think of lots of reasons

but right now I can't be bothered

because time is running out

there is only so much time

months and years and seasons

and I don't want to waste it

that's not what my life is all about

if I wanted to be depressed

like I did in childhood days

I could give you answers

to questions you never asked

but time is moving swiftly

and I'm changing my old ways

because I don't want to waste it

I believe I'm up to the task

          I know that I have problems

          in my head I'm keeping score

          maybe I can't solve them

          but I know there's something more

if I wanted to be miserable

I could do it in a minute

there are disagreements in my brain

that love to be center stage

but I don't have the time now

I won't let myself be in it

this is what will happen

when you reach a certain age

          I know that I have issues

          and my worries never end

          but I'm clear out of tissues

          and I don't need that again

I could feel sorry for myself

but I don't have the time now

the seconds are ticking

the sun is going down

I'm trying to be grateful

I know my life is mine now

and I will take advantage

while I'm still around

emma fantasizes

emma fantasizes

when she watches TV

that she is on an award show

on the digital screen

and she is smartly dressed

in a Hollywood gown

emma fantasizes

she is the star of the town

emma memorizes

her thank you speech

all the fans in the bleachers

all the kids at the beach

she acknowledges her family

and all the folks in the biz

and all the little people

who made her what she is

get it right this time

last night I dreamed

I died and went to heaven

St. Peter welcomed me

with a glass of holy wine

I looked into his eyes

and asked him this question

can I do it all over

I swear I'll get it right this time

          I'll get it right this time

          I'll live in God's design

          I'll follow every sign

          and I'll get it right this time

I made so many mistakes

I never reached my potential

I wasted so much time

whining and watching TV

I complained about everything

and never counted blessings

just one more shot at life

that would be all right with me

St. Peter spoke right to me

"son, that's not the way it goes

you've got one chance at living

and that's all you'll ever get"

I said "well, that's not fair, man

I need to make adjustments

I've always waited for something

but it hasn't happened yet"

          I'll get it right this time

          I'll do the work that's mine

          I'll learn to walk the line

          and I'll get it right this time

and then I woke up

from my restless dreamy night

thinking of the future

and how it's so unkind

then I turned on the TV

and ate a bag of cheetos

and thought I'll start tomorrow

and I'll get it right this time

          I'll get it right this time

          perfection's in my mind

          I won't be left behind

          and I'll get it right this time

              

nothing to tell you

I've got nothing to tell you

there is nothing to say

you know all the reasons

that I am going away

you are not one of them

you've been a friend to me

it's just that there's a whole wide world

I have yet to see

when the morning sun comes up

when the darkness meets the dawn

I will leave in silence

I'll be moving on

I need to find a morning

that reaches out to find

me among its treasures

in a world that isn't mine

if you go to school

this is what they teach the teachers

in these modern times

lock the doors

turn out the lights

and close the windows' blinds

everybody must be quiet

nothing can be said

and if you make an error

there's a chance you'll end up dead

all the students must obey

if they want to live another day

you must follow all the rules

if you go to school

this is how you run a high school

in these modern times

only one door can be used

and staff will be assigned

to be aware of what can come

if violence breaks out

we must protect each other 

that's what school is now about

and everybody lives in fear

that Columbine can happen here

you must learn to keep your cool

if you go to school

everybody everywhere

in these modern times

will know the danger and the drill

and recognize the signs

everyone in all the schools

they all learn the same

staff and students meet the guns

and no one is to blame

and everybody must obey

and go through this everyday

the world inside is hard and cruel

if you go to school