I Only Laugh

I only laugh to keep from crying We only live to keep from dying Good morning Go straight to first period Don't stand around Don't wait to see your friends Then we wonder why They are so rebellious And to think it gets much worse Than this I can't teach them about civil war If we can't discuss the reason We can't talk about mass shootings If we are not allowed I only laugh to keep from crying We only live to keep from dying Meanwhile, Mom's at home With deep dementia The news is causing mass hysteria Then I have to smile And talk up some bright future Well I can't stand and tell A bold-faced lie About how my country Has always been The good guy I only laugh to keep from crying We only live to keep from dying We can't act surprised at violence We can't act surprised at all With all these years and years Of evidence We can't count the deaths Of children If we are not allowed To blame the gun I only laugh to keep from crying We only live to keep from dying