The Children Get Old

The Children Get Old by Shonali Bhowmik

One by one, there's a lonely girl
She's not the one who's lost in the world
No one cares where she goes
When the streets die young and the children get old

Look at all these hustlers
They're getting away
We've been in the stands before
They're calling all the plays
Ask them once again, how do they do?
It's no surprise they put a spell on you

When you cross your heart
Will you stay the same?
When you hope to die
Will you smile this way?

Look at all the tweens stuck in a trance
Like the walking dead
It's their last chance
Ask them once again
How do they do?
Will they bury their heads and laugh at you?

One by one, there's a lonely boy
He's not the one who talks to his toys
No one cares where he goes
As the streets die young and the children get old

Ask them about their magic lanterns
Lonely girl told me to step back
She said shhhhhh the dark lords are still watching
Move aside before they attack

When you cross your heart
Will you stay the same?
When you hope to die
Will you smile this way?

One by one, one by one
One by one, one by one
One by one, one by one