How do you say to your child in the night
Nothing is all black but then nothing is all white
How do you say it will all be alright
When you know that it mightn't be true,
What do you do
Careful the things you say children will listen
Careful the things you do children will see and learn
Children may not obey but children will listen
Children will look to you for which way to turn
to learn what to be
Careful before you say listen to me
Children will listen
Careful the wish you make wishes are children
Careful the path they take wishes come true,
not free
Careful the spell you cast not just on children,
sometimes the spell may last past what you can see
and turn against you
Careful the tail you tell that is the spell
Children will listen
How can you say to a child who's in flight,
don't slip away and I won't hold so tight
What can you say that no matter how slight won't be misunderstood
What do you leave to your child when you're dead
Only what ever you put in its head
Things that your mother and father had said
which were left to them too
Careful what you say, children will listen
Careful you do it too children will see
and learn, Oh
Guide them but step away, children will glisten
Temper with what is true and children will turn
if just to be free
Careful before you say listen to me
Children will listen, children will listen
Children, children will listen
Written by Stephen Sondheim