ONG: The Teacher's Argument
ARTIST: Michael Gore
From the musical, Fame
Dm Dm/C
Artists are special celestial fools
Dm/B A#
blessed with the talent for breaking the rules
Dm /C /B A# Gm7
I'm fit for confinement in cubicle schools
A#/C Am/C Gm/C
artists are
A#/F F
special
Dsus/E A7sus A7
Dm /C
Artists are people not primitive fools
Dm/B /A#
they learn what to do before breaking the rules
Dm/A /G# C/G F Dm7
they know that the brain is the finest of tools
F/G Em/G Dm/G
artists are
F/C C
people
D# C7
Whether in theatre or music or dance
D# C7
they have to be given the chance
A# Am Gm
to fly by the seat of their pants
Gm
to develop their minds and be nurtured
A7sus
like plants
A7sus A7
Dm
Artists are part of the same human race
as everyone else in the same bloody place
F/A /G# C/G F D7
you learn to survive or you fall on your face
Gm C
artist or not
A7 Dm (5 bars)
artist or not
A7sus
A7
Fm7
I've seen them come and go for all these years
Fm7 D#maj7
kids with no talent for anything more than carrying spears
another year another shipment
C#/G F#/C C7b5
lacking the drive or the style or the basic equipment
Fno3rd
this one is different.
Ano3rd
D F#7 Bm A
And i can see me then, unremarkable me
D D7
the kid in the ballet class
G C#
the princess i wanted to be
F#m F
tutu and pointe shoes
Em D#
hair in a bun
A# D#
completely unnoticed
A7sus4
as if i were no one
Dm /C
this one is different i tell you
G/B Gm/A# A7
this one can dance
Dm
this one is special i tell you
A# G Cno3rd (5 bars)
give him a chance
Fno3rd
Gno3rd (2 bars)
What did they tell me when i was a girl
Learn...
Day after day when i was a girl
Learn...
B
The land of dreams waits over the meadow
C#
if you can find a way
out of the ghetto
D E
learn, learn
A G D
put your faith in books
that will protect you
A G D
put your faith in books
and a mind of your own
A G D C
neither charm or looks
will make them respect you
you must learn to stand
you must learn to stand alone
this one is different
put your faith in books
this one can dance
put your faith in books
artists are special
artists are people
this one must have the chance
this one must have the chance.
