Change

CHANGE
from the musical CAROL
Copyright © John thomas Oaks and Tommy Oaks, Caliora Music Publishing, ASCAP

I’M DOOMED TO WANDER AIMLESSLY
AND ROAM THROUGHOUT THE EARTH
AS PUNISHMENT FOR BEING SUCH A MISER.
FOR EVERY CENT I SHAMELESSLY
ADORED HERE SINCE MY BIRTH,
I HAVE ENTERED THE ETERNAL NONE THE WISER.
IF THE KINDNESS IN YOUR HEART
IS LIKE A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK,
WHEN THE FINAL AUDIT COMES,
IT’S GONNA BE A DAY OF PAYBACK.

THE ONLY TENDERNESS YOU UNDERSTAND
IS LEGAL TENDER—
HOW YOU LOVE TO WATCH THAT INTEREST ACCRUE!
WE’VE SENT YOU WARNINGS,
BUT YOU ALWAYS MARK ‘EM—
“RETURN TO SENDER.”
THERE’S A BALANCE IN YOUR NAME THAT’S OVERDUE.
YOU’VE GOT A SORRY CREDIT RATING
IN THE BANK OF LOVE,
AND SO TO SETTLE UP THE SCORE,
YOU’RE GONNA NEED A LITTLE SHOVE.

CHANGE
AIN’T JUST THE COPPER AND THE SILVER.
CHANGE
AIN’T JUST THE PENNIES THAT YOU PINCH.
THE KINDA CHANGE THAT MAKES A DIFF’RENCE
HAPPENS DEEP INSIDE
WHEN YOU GIVE UP ALL YOUR SELFISHNESS
AND KILL YOUR PRIDE.
THE WAY YOU’RE TREATING EV’RYBODY
IS COMPLETELY ABSURD.
YOU NEED TO LEARN THE OTHER MEANING
OF THAT WONDERFUL WORD—
“CHANGE.”

YOU’VE GOT A TALENT WITH THE NUMBERS
AND THE BULLS AND BEARS,
BUT THE DEFICIT YOU CARRY IS VAST.
UNLESS YOU WANNA LOOK LIKE ME,
YOU BETTER SAY YOUR PRAYERS
AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE IN THE PAST.
YOU’VE GOT YOUR ASSETS ALL IN ORDER
AND YOU’RE FEELIN’ FINE,
BUT YOU’LL BE DOOMED IF YOU THINK MONEY
IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

CHANGE
AIN’T JUST A ROLL OF SHINY QUARTERS.
CHANGE
AIN’T JUST THE DOLLARS AND THE DIMES.
THE KINDA CHANGE YOU SHOULD BE MAKIN’
IS THE PERMANENT KIND
WHERE YOU SEE A TRANSFORMATION
AND A CHANGE OF MIND.
I CAN TELL FROM YOUR EXPRESSION
THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED
TO YOU TO LEARN THE OTHER MEANING
OF THAT WONDERFUL WORD—
“CHANGE.”

YOU’VE GOT TO FIGHT THAT SELF-CENTERED IMPULSE.
YOU’LL NEVER FIND THE GOOD INSIDE
NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY.
YOU GOTTA MAKE A DECISION
TO TURN A NEW DIRECTION
WHEN THAT NATURAL INCLINATION’S
IN ABUNDANT SUPPLY.

IF YOU WANT YOUR BOOKS TO BALANCE
IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS
YOU GOTTA RECONCILE YOUR HEART TO THE TRUTH
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE JOY THAT GENEROSITY BRINGS
BEFORE YOU GET TOO LONG IN THE TOOTH
YOU'RE GONNA FIND YOUR HEART CAN GIVE AN EVEN BIGGER AMOUNT
IF YOU INVEST A LITTLE CHARITY IN EV'RY ACCOUNT

CHANGE
AIN’T JUST THE JINGLE IN YOUR POCKET.
CHANGE
AIN’T JUST THE NICKELS IN YOUR PURSE.
THE KINDA CHANGE YOU’RE REALLY NEEDIN’
IS A CHANGE OF HEART,
SO WE’RE SENDIN’ YOU SOME VISITORS
TO HELP YOU START.
YOU’LL BE HAPPY AS A PUPPY—
YOU’LL BE FREE AS A BIRD
WHEN YOU LEARN THE OTHER MEANING
OF THAT WONDERFUL WORD—
“CHANGE.”