Sometimes you want to just give in,
throw up your hands and say "you win"!
Others they would drag you down,
let you wonder, let you drown -
in all the doubts they give to you
for daring to learn something new.
Now I ask why they so fear change,
resent another reaching beyond their range?
Do they fear they won't be needed,
that from the squad they'll soon be weeded?
They've held their place for all these years,
done the job and cried the tears,
held lonely hands, quieted many fears.

Tell me then, were you rejected,
never knew just what was expected -
wondered if you'd ever be respected?
Why then do this to me,
if you ever felt this, why can't you see
that a human heart can only stand to feel rejected,
have its feelings neglected,
its joy infected -
before it too begins to demand,
why do I come here, why continue to try?
I wanted to help, I wanted to care,
I wanted to be there - anytime, anywhere.
I wanted to be able to hold out a hand,
help keep our ambulance manned,
offer my time to answer a call,
help out whether sickness, injury, or fall.

You told me you needed me,
wasn't that true?
You told me I'd be
a part of the crew.
What I now see isn't that after all.
I've been put in my place time after time,
been ignored and rejected without reason or rhyme.
Time after time you whine and you cry,
"why does this ambulance continue to die?"
Well I'll tell you a story, it happened to me -
maybe you'll ignore it, just maybe you'll see.
When you ask for more help, expect people to care,
someone may answer and take up their share,
but if you continue to push them aside
I have a thought I would like to confide.

No matter the person, no matter their mind,
if made to feel that they're "not your kind",
if told and told "that's not our way" -
who then would possibly want to stay?
If you continue to close your heart and mind
to other ways that people find
to do the job, and do it right,
if you refuse to learn without a fight,
very soon you're going to find
that there will be less and less of "your kind".
Word will get out, it always does,
soon no one will answer - just because.
They've heard of the problems, they've heard of the strife,
and most would prefer a more peaceful life.

You want things your way,
that's how it must stay!
You don't want the ones who want to show
the new things they've learned or new ways to grow.
Their thoughts you'll ignore, their presence abide,
who could care less about the hurt to their pride?
The old ways are fine, they have their place,
but new ideas could be accepted with grace.
Volunteers wonder why others don't care,
why they don't sign up and do their share -
You want their name upon your list,
but then you whisper behind your fist,
"we need them here, there is no doubt,
but we will not share just what we're about".

If they do what they're told,
they'll be treated like gold,
but if ever anyone dares
to wonder how you conduct your affairs,
if they seek to learn more,
try to move too near,
you'll ignore them together,
pretend you don't hear.
It must be a pact that you people make,
without ever wondering just what is at stake,
but more is the pity, or so it seems,
for in closing your ranks you've sold out your dreams.

Soon no one will come to take up the slack,
you'll cry you're the only one breaking your back.
You'll walk around, pounding your chest -
say you do more than all the rest.
But the thing that you're missing my friend
is that no one will water a tree that won't bend.
The tree that won't bend gradually reaches it's end,
with none left to care, nor wanting to mend.
The damage that's done can't be repaired
if you've pushed away all who once would have cared.
This story is sad, but definitely true,
it's from one who once wanted to be a part of your crew.

DLS - Copyright 1999