The Way It Is

My father told me "Son, it's OK to have ideals,
but beliefs against your government well that won't pay your bills.
You can raise your fists and publicly resist
but in the end corruption still exists
And no protest song will ever change the world
When everybody does exactly as they're told
In the end every man works for what is his
You can fight the world, but that's just how it is"

Your words are not meaningless to me,
And I feel their honesty but it's my life I gotta figure out for me
It's what I've always done not what I have become
and I know the consequences that'll come
And if I never reach the world or speak to people's souls
it's a passion that won't die as I grow old.
It's what I choose to do
it may not work for you but to myself I know I must be true

And I am not ashamed to stand right where I've stood.
My beliefs they are unchanged because I believe they should.
And I'll measure my success one word at a time.
If the truth is spoken will I stand the second time.