Play by the rules You're gonna miss all the fun He was a melon stealin' A do-it-anywayin' Playin' hooky from school A water tower poet class of '73 He'd say by God you better know it if you're runnin' with me

Play by the rules You're gonna miss all the fun He was a melon stealin' A do-it-anywayin' Playin' hooky from school A water tower poet class of '73 He'd say by God you better know it if you're runnin' with me

There must be a better world somewhere Oh yes, I know Sometimes I wonder Just what am I fighting for? I win some battles But I always lose the war I keep right on stumblin' In this no-man's land out here

(Better save the women and children first) Or could this be love? You know that magic often does And I see lonely ships upon the water Sail away with someone's daughter Yea, yea, one, two, one, two, three, four Out upon the islands on a cool summer night

You say I'm crazy 'Cause you don't think I know what you've done But when you call me baby I know I'm not the only one You and me we made a vow For better or for worse I can't believe you let me down But the proof is in the way it hurts For months on end

I gotta get better, gotta get better Gotta get better, gotta get better Meet me in the hallway Just let me know I'll be at the door, at the door Hoping you'll come around Just let me know I'll be on the floor, on the floor Maybe we'll work it out And

It's not where we're coming from It's how we turn from here We know where we want to go My mother would tell me Better stay in line You gotta look for the magic If there's a way there comes a time Let the children play We just need the line to get us

Play by the rules You're gonna miss all the fun He was a melon stealin' A do-it-anywayin' Playin' hooky from school A water tower poet class of '73 He'd say by God you better know it if you're runnin' with me

Baby, it's not just you That's hurting It's me too Before you go away you need to realize You know it hurts me too. I know your heart has seen better times I know our songs had better rhymes Before today

I gotta trust my lonely Don't you know that you're bad for me? Don't you know you're no good for me? Go get your praise from someone else And I can do better, do better You and I were swayin' on the ropes I'm a-okay, I'm good as gold And I can do better,