Why Should People Stay the Same - Harry Chapin

You were chasing him down Braodway on that white-hot July

'Cause he thought he’d got a message from some holy man on high

He said his chance had finally come;

he’d done it on his own

He had to leave his past behind;

the first thing that had to go--was

Home

You put him in an aeroplane and packed your life and clothes

You learned all the lessons that the suitcase lady knows

He said, «Something still drags me back from where I’m heading to,»

You didn’t really understand, 'til the next thing that had to go--was

You

Some things are sacrificed and some things remain

Some things bring pleasure and some things bring pain

Some things must pass away, and some things are regained

When the whole world is changing, why should people stay the same?

You saw his picture in the paper, that disarming boyish smile

You sometimes had to swallow hard as you saw him on the dial

You heard him on a talk show, he was hearing no one else

Then suddenly you knew too well, the last thing he’d left behind--was

Himself

Some things are sacrificed and some things remain

Some things bring pleasure and some things bring pain

Some things must pass away, and some things are regained

When the whole world is changing, why should people stay the same?

So you pulled yourself together, friends and family said you should

You discovered you were doing things you never knew you could

And someday when he calls you, which you know of course he’ll do

You’ll just send him away again, 'cause the last thing you finally

Found--was

You