Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
Cry for the young man
Who's fighting for your mind
Cry for the old man
Who's just passed its time
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Oh, tell me why...

Tell me why the leaves, will they fall with your breath
And if the leaves don't fall, they leave your breath to rest
Your rebellion puts he up to the test
To the nation for evaluation
While she wild with their radio station
Now I'm done playing their game, oh, yeah
Just searching for shade and you could tie that your tired mind that you break up to the side

Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
Cry for the young man
Who's fighting for your mind
Cry for the old man
Who's just passed its time
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
You do not

Die with the mass man, the gas man, the tax man
He springs taxes on tax men while reaching out with their own hands
Singing to the systematic
Static television addict
Sitting on your attic
Can't seem to see all the plastic in the water bay
You wouldn't want that for your daughter babe
Technological advances make no logical advances
Forget what you learned that you move that I [?] for you

Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
Cry for the young man
Who's fighting for your mind
Cry for the old man
Who's just passed its time
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die

Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't laughing but you do not cry
Cry for the young man
Who's fighting for your mind
Cry for the old man
Who's just passed its time
Tell me why, tell me why
You ain't living but you do not die
Oh, tell me why