all I mighta done and been
if not for the fear and pain
flying monkeys lead the chant
coulda, shoulda's my refrain
I coulda danced with Bolshoi
who says I can't dream that?
but no one would dream with me
plus I was so clumsy and fat
I shoulda taught at Bank Street
in the village of Greenwich
I'd of walked beside giants
Maybe found my long-sought niche
Behind Iron Curtain with commies
is where I longed to be
all the can'ts and prohibitions
just made it more enticing to me
I wanted to pilot an aeroplane
into the blue yonder to fly
but all that's flown is courage
I'll never take to the sky
all these dreams and ambitions
were mine and mine alone
they only met with scorn by those
who'd never even tried their own
You lack what it takes, they said
better just stay here where you are
you're too this, not of enough that
forget Quixote's unreachable star
You'll never make the grade
the airborne primates jeered
I wonder what I'd have accomplished
if just one monkey had cheered?
Why did I let them limit me?
with their nasty slurs and dissing
they didn't care so why should I?
but I let 'em take what I was missing
What was I so damned afraid of?
Goodness knows I'd failed before
or so they they always told me
the fool and motley on the floor
I had brains and drive in droves
chutzpah with a smidge of sass
so what I might have failed
and fallen flat on my ass?
At least I could say I tried
if I missed that brass ring clasp
It's better than wishing I had
at least reach exceeded grasp
Don't tell me not to try cuz
you've never come to my aid
it's me that'll fall not you
so don't you whizz on my parade
If I'd only gone to Bank Street
If only I'd made an attempt
Now I live with if-onlys
and a load of self-contempt
And if I didn't hit the heights
At least I could enjoy the dance
Who knows I mighta flown to Russia
If I'd have let myself take the chance.
I let their shaming keep me small
I let it pin my flower to the wall
I wish I'd been a tried-but-failed
instead of a never-tried at all
Oui, je regrette beaucoup...
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