A Refusal To Conform Poem by John Thorkild Ellison

I'm so tired of being sensible,
Tired of being wise,
All of the things I should do,
It's lies, lies, lies!

I want to get drunk instead,
I want to get right out of my head,
All of the things you told me to do,
All the ways I could have pleased you,
It's lies, lies, lies!

It comes as no surprise
That getting drunk is the only way out,
Let me stand on the rooftops and shout
'Lies, lies, lies! '

You'd have liked me to be a good boy,
Someone your colleagues could employ,
Someone who fitted in,
Who didn't have the courage to sin,
Someone to make you proud,
Someone who didn't shout out loud
'It's lies, lies, lies! '

I wasn't prepared to say yes to you,
I wasn't prepared to do what you do,
Go to hell, old father,
It's lies, lies, lies,
And that is the way a hero dies!