Children Will Listen
Stephen Sondheim
[BAKER]
Maybe I just wasn't meant to have children

[BAKER'S WIFE]
Don’t say that! Of course you were meant to have children

[BAKER]
But how will I go about being a father
With no one to mother my child?

[BAKER'S WIFE]
Just calm the child

[BAKER]
Yes, calm the child

[BAKER'S WIFE]
Look, tell him the story
Of how it all happened
Be father and mother
You'll know what to do
[BAKER]
Alone

[BAKER'S WIFE]
Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the wood
Do not let it grieve you
No one leaves for good
You are not alone
No one is alone

Hold him to the light now
Let him see the glow
Things will be all right know
Tell him what you know

(Spoken Interlude)
[BAKER]
Shh! Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there lived a young maiden, a sad young lad, and a childless baker with his wife

(Song)
[WITCH]
Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see
And learn
Guide them along the way
Children will glisten
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

[ALL]
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

[WITCH]
Careful the tale you tell
That is the spell
Children will listen
[ALL]
Though it's fearful
Though it’s deep, though it's dark
And though you may lose the path
Though you may encounter wolves
You can't just act
You have to listen
You can't just act
You have to think

There are always wolves
There are always spells
There are always beans
Or a giant dwells
There
So

Into the woods you go again
You have to every now and then
Into the woods, no telling when
Be ready for your journey

Into the woods, but not too fast
Or what you wish you lose at last
Into the woods, but mind the past
Into the woods, but mind the future
Into the woods, but not to stray
Or tempt the wolf
Or steal from the giant

The way is dark
The light is dim
But now there's you
Me, her, and him
The chances look small
The choices look grim
But everything you learn there
Will help when you return there

[BAKER, CINDERELLA, JACK, AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]
The light is getting dimmer

[BAKER]
I think I see a glimmer

[ALL]
Into the woods, you have to grope
But that's the way you learn to cope
Into the woods to find there's hope
Of getting through your journey

Into the woods, each time you go
There's more to learn of what you know
Into the woods, but not too slow
Into the woods, it’s nearing midnight
Into the woods to mind the wolf
To heed the witch
To honor the giant
To mind
To heed
To find
To think
To teach
To join
To go to the festival

Into the woods
Into the woods
Into the woods
Then out of the woods
And happy ever after

[CINDERELLA]
I wish
Write the lyrics for a pop song made in 2019, titled "Children Will Listen", by artist "Stephen Sondheim".