fleas

my father used to say

you sleep with dogs the next day

you'll wake in the bed scratching

those inevitable fleas

at ten years old

you listen to what you are told

but i never felt the itch

i never would

my mother had forbidden me

to waste away my life

i want you to have all the things i could never buy you

so don't stop what i'd begun

you're my one

my only son

follow what i say not what i've done

follow what i say not what i've done

shower

scrub

and shave

cleanly boys don't misbehave

follow what i say not what i've done