Lyric I m Going To Say It Now

Phil Ochs
Oh I am just a student, sir
and only want to learn
But it s hard to read through the risin smoke
of the books that you like to burn
So I d like to make a promise
and I d like to make a vow
That when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
Oh you ve given me a number
and you ve taken off my name
To get around this campus
why, you almost need a plane
And you re supporting Chang Kai-Shek
while I m supporting Mao
So when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
I wish that you d make up your mind
I wish that you d decide
That I should live as freely
as those who live outside
Cause we also are entitled
to the rights to be endowed
And when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
Ooh, you d like to be my father
you d like to be my Dad
And give me kisses when I m good
and spank me when I m bad
But since I ve left my parents
I ve forgotten how to bow
So when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
And things they might be different
if I was here alone
But I ve got a friend or two
who no longer live at home
And we ll respect our elders
just as long as they allow
That when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
I ve read of other countries
where the students take a stand
Maybe even help to overthrow
the leaders of the land
Now I wouldn t go so far to say
we re also learnin how
But when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
So keep right on a-talkin
and tell us what to do
If nobody listens
my apologies to you
And I know that you were younger once
cause you sure are older now
And when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now
So I am just a student sir
and only want to learn
But it s hard to read through the risin smoke
from the books that you like to burn
So I d like to make a promise
and I d like to make a vow
That when I ve got something to say, sir
I m gonna say it now