Oh, I am just a student,
an d I only want to learn
But it's hard to read through the rising
smoke
from the books that you like to burn
So I'd like to make a promise,
and I'd like to make a vow
That when I got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
Oh, you've given me a number,
and you've taken off my name
To get around this campus,
why you almost need a plane
And you're supporting
Chiang Kai -shek,
well I'm supporting my home
So when I got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
I wish that you'd make up your mind,
I wish that you'd decide
That I should live as freely
as those who live outside
Cause we also are entitled
to the rights to be endowed
So when I got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
Well, you'd like to be my father
and you'd like to be my dad
And give me kisses when I'm good
and smack me when I'm bad
But since I left my parents,
I've forgotten how to bow
So when I got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
And things they might be different
if I was here alone
But I got a friend or two
who no longer live at home
And we'll re spect our elders
just as long as they allow
And when I've got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
I read of other countries
where the students take a stand
Maybe even help to overthrow
the leaders of the land
Now I wouldn't go so far to say
we're also learning how
But when I got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
So keep right on a -talkin',
tell us what to do
And if nobody listens,
my apologies to you
And I know that you were younger once,
cause you sure are older now
And when I've got something to say,
I'm gonna say it now
Oh, I am just a student, sir,
and I only want to learn
But it's hard to read through
the rising smoke
from the books that you like to burn
So I'd like to make a promise,
and I'd like to make a vow
That when I've got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now
When I've got something to say,
sir, I'm gonna say it now