Performed by barbra streisand

Are you ready to hear your lesson for the day?
-yes, teacher! yes, teacher!
Are you ready to learn what history has to say?
-yes, teacher! yes, teacher!
Then take your books and follow me to 1776 ad
And as the history page is turned we will see what we can learn
-yes, teacher! yes, teacher! yes, teacher!

In 1776 tom paine was writing books with a might and main
The tory said now man alive
Stop giving out with this here liberty jive
-stop giving out with this here liberty jive

Don't sing of people's rights that way
They might believe in what you say
So stop your song it's not polite
Pipe down before you start a fight

-you don't say, teacher, is that right?

Aha, but tom paine looked ahead
And to those tories thomas said no, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying whoa
And sitting on your status quo

-yes, teacher! yes, teacher! yes, teacher! yes, teacher!

To washington at valley forge
A wise guy whispered slow down, george
Why start up trouble for the king
This freedom racket is a corny thing

-this freedom racket is a corny thing

Your troops are ickys they can't move
You'll never get them in the groove
So if you're wise, you'll just lay low
And play with the guys that have the dough

-you don't say teacher, is that so?

Aha, but george just looked ahead
And to that tory georgie said...no...no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying whoa
And sitting on your status quo

-yes, teacher! yes, teacher!

Now paul revere saw a bellfry light
And that boy rode to town one night
Sang to the farmers near and far
Here come the british beating eight to the bar

One slippery tory said now paul
You're manners aren't nice at all
Turn back, don't be an old hep cat
The right people don't sing like that

-butpaul revere turn him down flat
Aha, that's right, he rode ahead
And to that tory paul just said, no, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying whoa
And sitting on your status quo

Yes, teacher! yes, teacher! yes, teacher
So, students now you're hep, don't stop!
Keep stepping to that freedom hop
Although the tory's beef and blow
To keep you sitting on your status quo

-to keep you sitting on your status quo

When they say let's stand still a bit
Give up some rights, no harm in it
Remember those are just the tricks
That did not work in 76

-now ain't that right, the same old tricks?

Though torys talk: don't be misled
And do what all those others said

No, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying whoa
And sitting on your status ...
Sitting on, yes, sittin' on your, status...

Quo!

Oh!

• Back to Work
• Doing The Reactionary
• Four Little Angels of Peace
• Nobody Makes a Pass at Me
• Not Cricket to Picket
• One Big Union for Two
• Sing Me a Song With Social Significance
• Status Quo
• What Good is Love?