When the Rules Aren't Fair
A song about a kid in a playground game where the rules keep changing every time the same kid is about to win, and what the kid does after the third change.
We were playing a game on the asphalt court. Sam said, "First to ten — that's the score we want." I got to nine and I lined up my shot. Sam said, "Wait — first to twelve — that's what I thought."
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
I got to twelve. I was ready to win. Sam said, "Hold on — you have to be in The painted square — that's the rule, you know." I'd never heard that rule. I let it go.
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
I stepped in the square. I lined up my shot. Sam said, "From the OUTSIDE of the square — that's what The rule actually is, you must've heard wrong." I was getting tired. The game was long.
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
I stood there a minute and looked at the lines. Sam grinned. The other kids stared at their shoes. Nobody said anything. Nobody moved. The rules were going to change as long as I tried.
Some games are like that. The rules are the score. The rules are whatever the rule-changer says. The harder you try, the further the line. You can't win a game where the line is alive.
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
I picked up my ball. I walked off the court. Sam yelled, "Hey, you forfeit! That counts as a loss!" I kept walking. Maya was over by the wall Drawing chalk worlds. She had two pieces left.
She handed me one. We drew a whole town. Streets and a river and a mayor named Frog. We made up the rules as we went, but together — Both of us laughing. Both of us drawing.
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
I don't know. I'm asking. I'm just a kid with a piece of chalk. Some courts you keep playing. Some courts you walk. Some courts you stay and you challenge the call.
I walked. This time. Maybe next time I'll stay. Maybe next time I'll find a different way. The asphalt's still there. The painted square too. Sam's still keeping score. The score keeps moving.
So what do you do when the rules aren't fair? What do you do when the rules aren't fair?
The chalk on the sidewalk. A mayor named Frog. The river we drew running off down the block.