Don't Make Your Children Pay
Joe Tex Lyrics

Don't make your children
Refusing to burden your own children

Don't make 'em pay for your mistakes
Do not hold them accountable for your errors

It ain't right, oh no listen to me, now
Such actions are unjust and require attention

Because they didn't ask to come here, oh no
Because they did not choose to be born

Please, don't make 'em pay
I implore you, refrain from making them suffer

For your mistakes oh no, oh no
Due to the errors you have made, this must not happen

Seems like I can hear some mother
It appears as though I can hear a mother

Sayin' to her husband right now
Speaking to her spouse in this moment

"Don't you know that we're down
"Are you aware that we are in a state of

To the last cup of flour in the barrel?"
Having only one cup of flour left in the container?"

And she said "Man, don't you know
Addressing him, she exclaimed, "Sir, are you not aware

We don't but three or four spoons
That we possess only three or four spoons

Of lard left in the can?
Of lard remaining in the container?

And yet, and still
Despite this scarcity

You wanna take the little money we got saved
You desire to spend the small amount of money we have managed to save

And stay out all night and drink?
Engaging in late-night drinking escapades?

You know
You are aware

You haven't worked in goin' on six months
You have not been employed for nearly six months

But I promised myself a long time ago
However, I made a vow to myself a while back

That I wouldn't leave my
That I would not abandon my

Children on nobody else
Offspring to the care of anyone else

I let you stay here and drink up all the rest
I allowed you to remain here and consume all the remaining

Of that little money that we got saved
Available funds we had saved

But I'm gonna stand by my children
Nevertheless, I will support my children

Stand by 'em 'til the very"
Be there for them until the very end"

And I can see that poor
And I can envision that unfortunate

Father and some corner
Father in a secluded place

With four little arms
With four small embracing arms

Mumbling something to himself
Muttering to himself

And I don't know what he's sayin'
And I am uncertain of his exact words

But I can imagine in my mind
However, I can envision in my thoughts

I can imagine I hear him say
I can imagine hearing him express

"I'm gonna get me a job
"I will find employment

Early in the mornin'
As soon as morning arrives"

I'm not gonna make my children
I will not force my children

Pay for my mistakes"
To bear the consequences of my errors"

Listen, "Because they didn't ask
Listen, because they did not request

To come here
To exist in this world

And I'd be less than a father if
And I would be an inadequate father if

I made 'em pay for my mistakes"
I held them accountable for my mistakes"

(They didn't ask to come here) "You see
(They did not choose to be born) You understand

My children didn't ask to come here"
My children did not choose to be born"

"And who knows
"Besides, who knows

I might have to turn back on 'em
I may need their assistance in the future

For a favor one day"
For a favor at some point"

(They didn't ask to come here)
(They did not choose to be born)

"You see, they they didn't
"You see, they did not

Ask to come here, oh no
Choose to exist in this world, oh no

And I'm not gonna make my children, ooh Lord
And I refuse to make my children, oh Lord

I'm not gonna make 'em pay, oh
I will not make them suffer, oh

Not gonna pay for my mistakes
They will not bear the consequences of my errors

It ain't right it ain't right
Such actions are unjust, they are unjust