Conform, conform, conform!

A thought ? Good God quick hide it, don’t let the neighbours hear!
This terrible thing, being different, fills us all with fear!
Conform, conform, conform, don’t let it once appear
We’re not the same as you, it’s US that gets to jeer

At YOU, not you at us! - robust rebuttal, that’s the trick,
This thought an aberration, completely sadly sick,
Somehow slipped in sideways, let us give it stick,
Let’s knock it on the head my friends with this hefty thought-brick.

There, such relief, it’s gone, that wasn’t all that bad,
I think my mind was wandering, I was a little mad,
I’m just the same as you again, silent now and dead,
There’s nothing - absolutely - inside my empty head,

No, honestly, believe me, I cannot tell a lie,
I see the same as you do and will until I die,
Harmless now and mindless, I hear your accusing cry
But I’m SURE that we’re identical, and if not then I’ll try!

You see ? It feels so much safer in this silent crowd
(I’m sorry, you’re quite right, I WAS a little loud),
The limits now are simple and immediately clear,
It’s ridiculously obvious why you didn’t want me near.

So I’m going to practice empty natter, looking straight ahead,
This clique is all that matters, and it fills me full of dread
To even contemplate the crime of breaking free,
By saying ‘Hi’ or smiling at those who aren’t like me.

Belonging is the prime aim, this group is all I’ve got,
(Without it I’m a nothing and nothing’s not a lot),
I don’t have lots of courage so you’re invisible to me
Unless the group I value decides that it can see.

I’ve got a stony face which I’ll take from this hand-bag,
(If you don’t belong to my group you’ll NEVER see me glad),
Your two heads are outrageous, I don’t know how you dare,
I’m sure that you’re an alien so I’ll try this see-through-stare!

I think within the limits that the greater group has made,
Its values are inflexible and I’m everso afraid
Of challenging the status quo, of stepping out of line -
As long as I’m within this group then everything’s just fine …

- but what the hell, I’ll try it, I’ll give it just one go!
Thinking differently is difficult and I’m a trifle slow
At picking up the concept of being first of all myself,
My education’s told me that it’s harmful for my health

… but as I do this hold my hand, it’s frightening for me,
I have this awful dread of being excluded socially,
My life is based on groups and belonging to a team,
My early years were spent on practicing this theme.

I’ve run around for bells at school, sat up when I’m told,
Written down pure rubbish in case it’s useful when I’m old,
Shut down imagination, learnt uncreativity,
Swallowed one long syllabus of dead conformity.

I’ve played endless games on school fields where I was hammered into shape,
(Put all the sheep together now, there must be no escape),
Authority is paramount, you must get used to this
(If we trained individuals who’d take the bullet’s kiss?)

A few million thinking people, that really wouldn’t do
(Anarchy and chaos, at least WE’VE thought it through):
Opening up your minds to control your destiny
(How the hell do you have a nation when everybody’s free ?)

At home I took a look ahead, saw how I must behave,
My youth meant that I easily became my culture’s slave,
I never had a chance to think, it really wasn’t done -
I was trapped within a minefield by the Dead Hands of the Dumb.

I found myself a partner, and then eventually
Between us we produced a little family,
What spark I had was all-consumed, and my relatives made sure
The help they gave depended on not opening my mind’s door.

I tried a little work, and there the message was the same,
To get on with the mindless you must play the mindless game,
And if you don’t you’re cast aside, and if you do you’re dead,
For unthinking is a way of thought that quickly fills your head.

And when I went to pray to God the priest spelt out the rules,
(God is great, religion’s not, they only suffers fools),
No one can accuse me of running from a fight
But I realised to survive that my group was always right.

So it isn’t really my fault I’ve become this empty shell,
There is a light inside but it’s hidden by a Hell,
I wasn’t trained for strength of thought, individuality,
I look but only where it’s safe, I know the boundary.

So let me say a little prayer and look up for a star,
God is infinite and it really isn’t far
To reach up and out and with my mind to catch myself a dream,
And bring it back down here to Earth to shape an inner gleam.

And with that gleam I’ll bind my heart, and fasten it with fire,
And face the world with confidence, proud of my desire
To live my life with strength, and bold integrity,
Upright to the very end in my eternity.

2001 ish