Second Nature

A memo to a higher office
Open letter to the powers that be
To a God, a king, a head of state
A captain of industry
To the movers and the shakers
Can't everybody see?It ought to be second nature
I mean, the places where we live
Let's talk about this sensibly
We're not insensitive
I know progress has no patience
But something's got to giveI know you're different, you know I'm the same
We're both too busy to be taking the blame
I'd like some changes but you don't have the time
We can't go on thinking, it's a victimless crime
No one is blameless but we're all without shame
We fight the fire while we're feeding the flamesFolks have got to make choices
And choices got to have voices
Folks are basically decent
Conventional wisdom would say
But we read about the exceptions
In the papers every dayIt ought to be second nature
At least, that's what I feel
Now I lay me down in dreamland
I know perfect's not for real
I thought we might get closer
But I'm ready to make a dealToday is different, and tomorrow the same
It's hard to take the world, the way that it came
Too many rapids, keep us sweeping along
Too many captains, keep on steering us wrong
It's hard to take the heat, it's hard to lay blame
To fight the fire while we're feeding the flamesIt ought to be second nature
At least, that's what I feel
Now I lay me down in dreamland
I know perfect's not for real
I thought we might get closer