Second Nature

A memo to a higher office
Open letter to the powers that be
To a God, a King, a head of state
A captain of industry
To the movers and the shakers
Can't everybody see?

It ought to be second nature
I mean, the places where we live
Let's talk about this sensibly
We're not insensitive
I know progress has no patience
But something's got to give

I know you're different
You know I'm the same
We're both too busy
To be taking the blame

I'd like some changes
But you don't have the time
We can't go on thinking
It's a victimless crime

No one is blameless
But we're all without shame
We fight the fire
While we're feeding the flames

Folks have got to make choices
And choices got to have voices
Folks are basically decent
Conventional wisdom would say

Well, we read about
The exceptions
In the papers every day

It ought to be second nature
At least, that's what I feel
"Now I lay me down in Dreamland"
I know perfect's not for real
I thought we might get closer
But I'm ready to make a deal

Today is different
And tomorrow the same
It's hard to take the world
The way that it came

Too many rapids
Keep us sweeping along
Too many captains
Keep on steering us wrong

It's hard to take the heat
It's hard to lay blame
To fight the fire
While we're feeding the flames