Big
© 1997 Paul A. McMahon
Can you measure riches? Can you quantify the value of a lifetime, as
it's passing by? Do you think that I'm impressed by symbols of your wealth?
If what you get is what you keep, you can keep it to yourself. Are you
eating well my friend? Do you get enough? Does the pain of hunger make
your life a little rough? Or are you doing fine my friend, getting all
you need. If you're fat and happy well, that's good to see. But if you're
fillin' up your bowl from someone else's bin, if you're getting fat while
someone else is getting thin. You could have a pocket full of diamonds,
rings of gold. Be livin' in a land of milk and honey, but you know, I don't
think I'd say that you were big. You're not big. Don't you give in to greed.
Take only what you need. Do you feel the cold my friend, beating on your
skin? Do you lie awake at night 'cause your blankets are so thin? Or are
your garments all bright silk, best in every way? As long as you are comfortable,
that's okay. But if your cupboard's full of shirts from someone else's
back, you might think that I'm impressed but let me tell you that... You
could have a pocket full of diamonds, rings of gold. Be livin' in a land
of milk and honey, but you know, I don't think I'd say that you were big.
You're not big. Don't you give in to greed. Take only what you need.
This song was inspired by the story of an Hawaian Chief who when
asked: "...what makes you so big Chief ?", replied: "...it's not having
great material wealth that makes you big, it's being able to give it away".
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