Don't Reign on My Parade

Don't tell me not to live—
just cry and sputter,
life's Frutti and the Salt's
a baller Pepa—
don't bring around a gay
to reign on my parade!

Don't tell me it's not a fight—
we've simply got two—
if someone takes a hit,
it's me and not you!
Who told you you're allowed
to reign on my parade!

I marched my band out,
I beat my drum,
and now I'm banned out—
your turn to chat, (offi)sir—
at least I didn't take it,
splat, (offi)sir, I guess I didn't make it!

But, whether I'm the rise
of intersection,
or product and the prize
of state's subjection,
Tiana or warted frog beneath it's heel—
I gotta defy once,
I gotta try once—
only can die once, right, (offi)sir?

Ooh, life is loosey,
goosey, and you see—
I gotta have my thanks, (offi)sir!

Get ready for me, love,
'cause it's the summer,
I simply gotta march—
this shit's a bummer!
Don't bring around a gay
To reign on my parade!

-Charles Michael Averin