Careful the things you say;
    Children will listen.
Careful the things you do;
    Children will see, and learn.
Children may not obey,
    but children will listen.
Children will look to you
    for which way to turn,
    to learn what to be.

Careful before you say, "Listen to me."
Children will listen.

Careful the wish you make;
    Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take;
    Wishes come true, not free.
Careful the spell you cast, not just on children.
    Sometimes the spell may last
    past what you can see,
    and turn against you.
Careful the tale you tell;
    That is the spell.
Children will listen.

How can you say to a child who's in flight
    "Don't slip away and I won't hold so tight?"
What can you say
    that no matter how slight
    won't be misunderstood?
What do you leave to your child when you're dead?
    Only whatever you put in its head.
    Things that your Mother and Father had said,
         which were left to them too.

Guide them but step away,
    and children will listen.
Tamper with what is true
    and children will turn,
    if just to be free.
Careful before you say, "Listen to me"
Children will listen.
Children will listen.

Children will listen.