Van Wikipedia: De tekst handelt over het schijnbaar structuurloze leven van een opgroeiend kind. Schijnbaar, want aan alle kanten wordt het kind geïnstrueerd: Don’t do this; don’t do that. Pink Floyd behandelde hetzelfde thema, maar dan dwingender in Another Brick in the Wall (part two) en liet in The Wall ook nog eens het soms verschrikkelijke resultaat zien.
Don’t forget your books, you know you’ve got to learn the golden rule
Your teacher tells you stop your playing, get on with your work
And be like Johnnie-Too-good, don’t you know he never shirks
He’s coming along
After school is over, you’re playing in the park
Don’t be out too late, don’t let it get too dark
They tell you not to hang around and learn what life’s about
And grow up just like them, won’t you let it work it out
And you’re full of doubt
Don’t do this and don’t do that
What are they trying to do?
(Make a good boy of you)
And do they know where it’s at?
Don’t criticize, they’re old and wise
Do as they tell you to
Don’t want the devil to
Come and put out your eyes
Maybe I’m mistaken expecting you to fight
Or maybe I’m just crazy, I don’t know wrong from right
But while I’m still living, I’ve just got this to say
It’s always up to you if you want to be that
Want to see that, want to see that way
You’re coming along