Harry Chapin - Why Should People Stay the Same lyrics

You were chasing him down Braodway
On that white-hot July
'Cause he thought he'd got a message
From some holy man on high
He said his chance had finally come
He'd done it on his own
He had to leave his past behind the
First thing that had to go -was home

You put him in an aeroplane and
Packed your life and clothes
You learned all the lessons that
The suitcase lady knows
He said, "Something still drags me back
From where I'm heading to, "
You didn't really understand
'til the next thing that had to go -was you

Some things are sacrificed and
Some things remain
Some things bring pleasure and
Some things bring pain
Some things must pass away
And some things are regained
When the whole world is changing
Why should people stay the same?

You saw his picture in the paper
That disarming boyish smile
You sometimes had to swallow hard as
You saw him on the dial
You heard him on a talk show
He was hearing no one else
Then suddenly you knew too well
The last thing he'd left behind -was himself

Some things are sacrificed and
Some things remain
Some things bring pleasure and
Some things bring pain
Some things must pass away
And some things are regained
When the whole world is changing
Why should people stay the same?

So you pulled yourself together
Friends and family said you should
You discovered you were doing things
You never knew you could
And someday when he calls you
Which you know of course he'll do
You'll just send him away again
'cause the last thing you finally found -was
You