don t pick a fight with a poet

Madeleine Peyroux

When you re walking on the street
and the people that you meet
make you want to start a big fight
cause they talk as if they re so right
There is one thing to remember
in case you haven t heard
You can kill a mighty emperor
but you cannot smite a word

So, don t pick a fight with a poet
Don t raise your hand on a whim
Whether it s wrong or it s right
there s a lesson in life
and to learn it, you have to give in
cause the poet knows you can t win

When you re twitching at the bar
No one knows who you are
and you want to prove them all wrong
you think you are so strong
You can try to make them listen
You can try to be the boss
but the storyteller is the one
who calls the toss

So, don t pick a fight with a poet
Don t raise your hand on a whim
Whether it is wrong or it s right
Whether it s wrong or it s right
there ll be a lesson tonight
and to learn it you ll have to give in
cause a poet knows you can t win

Over there in the corner with a Cheshire grin
making rhyme out of broken hearts
cryin the hymn
And two tokes from a good time
a toast away from fist flying
congregating the world
with a paper and pen

Don t pick a fight with a poet
Don t raise your hand on a whim
Whether it s wrong or right
there s a lesson in life
and to learn it, you ll have to give in
cause a poet knows, you can t win