My petition lyrics

I just sat down to watch the game when I heard the doorbell ring

And I wondered who in the world it could be

Through the peephole, all that I saw there

Was a crooked cap on curly hair an' some kid squinting back at me

I said, "If you're selling something, well, I ain't buying nothing

But I appreciate you stopping by."

Said: "I ain't askin' for a dime, just a minute of your time

An' your name here on the dotted line

Could you sign my petition?"

Had a spiral notebook in his hand

Handed me a chewed up pen

And I ask you: "What am I signin' up for."

I scrolled down that wrinkled page

Saw a couple of neighbors names

I kept reading, then I sat down on the porch

It was a letter to the President

With a list that numbered one to ten

It said: "Make a law where Daddy's don't work late

Keep Uncle Joe an' those soldiers safe

Give those kids on TV all they want to eat

Put a stop to bullies on the bus

No crime, no waits, no hate, no drugs

Give a blanket and a job to people on the street."

I said: "Son, sounds like a world I'd like to live in."

And I signed his petition

He thanked me for my time

I headed back inside, grabbed my beer

And got back to the game

Thought: "By now that boy he's three doors down"

"Here I am just sittin' round

Waitin' on the world to change."

Must've blocked the whole game out

All that I could think about was

"Make a law where Daddy's don't work late

Keep Uncle Joe an' those soldiers safe

Give those kids on TV all they want to eat

Put a stop to bullies on the bus

No crime, no waits, no hate, no drugs

Give a blanket and a job to people on the street."

And I thought: "Man, ain't that a place I'd like to live in."

And I thank God for that boy that's out there fixin'

The world with his petition...

• Artist:Kenny Rogers
• Album:Water &Bridges (2006)