In your earliest years
They'll tolerate your tears
But you're on borrowed time
You'll need bullet proof glass
When in front of the class
Casting pearls before swine
Because sincerity, sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
Sincerity, Sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
This world so snide
Don't want a look inside
So you better close the drapes
All your poetic tripe
Set that trash alight
And descend the fire escape
Because sincerity, sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
Sincerity, Sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
But may you find yourself
Earnest and elated
At times, be they seldom and few
Cuz even the remnants of sentiment have value
Flippant scoffs and groans
And sarcastic tones
Will barrage past your lips
Scantily fortified
With such brittle pride
God forbid you go off script
Because sincerity, sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
Sincerity, Sincerity
They'll beat it out of you
But may you find yourself
Earnest and elated
At times, be they seldom and few
Cuz even the remnants of sentiment have value
They say the truth shall reveal itself when you're jaded and older
That beauty lives and dies in the eyes of beholders
That it's corruptive, corrosive and a curse on your health
Better keep it locked up, keys tossed down a well
They'll be trivializing the helm that you're manning
They'll be stomping out all of the embers you're fanning
They'll be siphoning your spirit and serving you the swill
So if you're gonna fight 'em, prepare to die on that hill
When the heavens seem so deafened you're tempted to unplug
And apathy's abundant and abused like a drug
May the hour be nigh for you to lean into will
Cuz the best of men have always lived and died on that hill