Well I'm accustomed to the smooth ride
Or maybe I'm a dog who's lost its bite
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more
I don't expect to sleep through the night
Some people say a lie's a lie's a lie
But I say, "why
Why deny the obvious child?
Why deny the obvious child?"

And in remembering a road sign
I'm remembering a girl when I was young
And we said, "these songs are true
These days are ours
These tears are free"
And hey
The cross is in the ballpark
The cross is in the ballpark

We had a lot of fun
Had a lot of money
We had a little son and we thought we'd call him Sonny
Sonny gets married and moves away
Sonny has a baby and bills to pay
Sonny gets sunnier
Day by day by day by day

Well, I've been waking up at sunrise
I've been following the light across my room
I watch the night receive the room of my day
Some people say the sky is just the sky
But I say
"Why deny the obvious child?
Why deny the obvious child?"

Sonny sits by his window and thinks to himself
How it's strange that some rooms are like cages
Sonny's yearbook from high school
Is down on the shelf
And he idly thumbs through the pages
Some have died
Some have fled from themselves
Or struggled from here to get there
Sonny wanders beyond his interior walls
Runs his hands through his thinning brown hair

Well, I'm accustomed to a smoother ride
Or maybe I'm a dog who's lost its bite
I don't expect to be treated like a fool no more
I don't expect to sleep the night
Some people say a lie is just a lie
But I say
"The cross is in the ballpark
Why deny the obvious child?"


Lyrics submitted by adupont, edited by nyetnyetnyet

The Obvious Child Lyrics as written by Paul Simon

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Obvious Child song meanings
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    General Comment

    And I accept, too, the obvious, literal storyline about Sonny and the growing up, getting older thing.

    I picture Sonny as a child in a large, Catholic family, and he's the only one outspoken enough to talk about what he wants- very driven, not selfish. The parents say, "well, he's the only one speaking up... why deny the obvious child?"

    Then again, I guess someone's mentioned the idea of Sonny being raised Catholic/Christian, looking around at other faiths, looking back at Christ and saying "Well, though that's the most obvious choice, why deny Him?"

    I think this is valid as well..

    mr.sozeon June 03, 2008   Link

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