Waiting

All my childhood, I couldn’t wait to grow up

To have freedom of choice and the money to afford it

So I drudged through school, gritting my teeth all the while

One day soon I’ll be free and then you’ll see, my mom won’t tell me what to do

Eventually I got old enough and I packed up for college

I even got to pick my major!

But the teachers are strict, and sooner than later, it was back to following instructions

One day I’ll graduate, and then I’ll be free and professors won’t tell me what to do

I finished with college and got my first job

Making money, I’m on my journey to freedom!

But I only get paid if I listen to my boss, so I still have to follow instructions

One day soon I’ll be free and even bosses won’t tell me what to do

I got a promotion and make a decent wage 

But bills suck me dry, and the government takes theirs

They’ll throw me in jail if I don’t pay my taxes, so I still have to follow instructions

One day soon I’ll be free, and not even the government will tell me what to do

I had my first kid, my partner and I are ecstatic

We saved up some money and bought our first house

But the mortgage is high and the bank has its rules, so I still have to follow instructions

One day soon I’ll be free, and then the banks can’t tell me what to do

I love my kids, but wow they’re expensive

Clothes, toys, sports, and grocery shopping twice a week. 

With 3 kids and a job, I now have 4 bosses, and that’s a lot of instructions

But eventually they’ll grow, and then I’ll be free, and my kids won’t tell me what to do

I’m growing old, retirement is finally here

The kids are grown up and have families of their own

But the doctor says my arteries are clogged, so I still have to follow instructions

One day, I promise I’ll be free, and then not even doctors will tell me what to do!

I’m dying now, the nurse says it won’t be long

My partner is here, and the kids brought theirs too

My grandkids ask me what’s wrong

I said, “I waited too long for my freedom, and now that it’s here, I realize I was free all along.”