Can You Take It Back?
A song about reversible vs irreversible decisions - thinking about whether you can undo something before you do it
[LEAD] CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (yes? or no?) [LEAD] Some things YES, some things NO! CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (let's go! let's go!) [LEAD] Let's find out which ones GO!
[LEAD] Stack of blocks falls flat? [CROWD] YES! YES! YES! [LEAD] Pick 'em up, stack 'em higher, no mess! Scribble on a whiteboard? [CROWD] YES! YES! YES! [LEAD] Wipe it with a rag and start again!
[LEAD] But, Squeeze the toothpaste from the tube? [CROWD] NO! NO! NO! [LEAD] You can NOT cram toothpaste BACK to where it goes! Cut your paper into itty-bitty snips? [CROWD] NO! NO! NO! [LEAD] You can NOT un-cut the bits, they SCATTER as they GO!
[LEAD] CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (think first! think first!) [LEAD] Some things YES, some things NO! CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (worst case? worst case?) [LEAD] Better think before you GO!
[LEAD] Pop a balloon? (POP!) [CROWD] NO! NO! NO! [LEAD] Crack an egg? [CROWD] NO! NO! NO! [LEAD] Spill a cup of milk? [CROWD] NO! NO! NO! [LEAD] Once it's DONE it's DONE, and away it goes!
[LEAD] But, Knock the books off the shelf? [CROWD] YES! YES! YES! [LEAD] Stack 'em up, no big stress! Mess up Lego on the floor? [CROWD] YES! YES! YES! [LEAD] Pick the pieces up, you guess, You can BUILD IT all AGAIN!
[LEAD] So before you cut and before you snip, Before you POP and before you flip, ASK: can I take this back today? YES → have at it. NO → no way!
[LEAD] CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (yes? or no?) [LEAD] Some things YES, some things NO! CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? [CROWD] (ASK FIRST! ASK FIRST!) [LEAD] Then you're ready, LET'S GO!