I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change.
I had to see the harm I'd done before I could
change my ways.
I thought that I was honest,
because I would not lie.
But this did not make me tactful.
This did not make me nice.
But I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change.
I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change my ways.
I thought that I was shaking up the status quo.
Thought that I was going where they dared not go.
I was mildly condescending to the patient and the slow.
But I had to see the harm I was doing before I could change.
I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change my ways.
Portents in the air, but I couldn't read them.
Omens all around that I should have spied.
Why didn't someone tell me that I was doing something wrong?
Well, they tried.
They tried.
Well,
the signs were all around me that a pox was on my play.
But my course of understanding was not charted in one day.
And I had to see the harm I'd
done before I could change.
Oh,
I had to see the harm I was doing before I could change my way.
I had to cringe before I could understand.
I had to feel before I could atone.
There I was,
now humble,
now horrified,
remorseful,
alone.
I thought I was amusing,
but I missed my mark.
I was not outwardly abusing,
but could be rude and stark.
Oblivious to all in my narcissistic haze.
But I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change.
I had to see the harm I'd done before I was changed my way.
Well,
not tolerant of tradition,
no,
nor catering to convention,
no,
nor caring if I shocked them with my crude displays.
But I had to see the harm I was doing.
I had to see the harm before I could change my ways.
Well,
now I thank the souls that hinted and sent guiding words to me.
But their words could not upright me.
I had to feel.
I had to see.
I had to see the harm I was doing before I could change.
I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change my ways.
Well,
I thought I was perceptive,
but my aim was wide.
I thought I was progressive,
but was just plain snide.
I thought I was straightforward, but didn't
help
with my smart remark.
But I had to see the harm I'd done before I could change.
I had to see
the harm I'd caused before I could change my way.