From the recording Still Learning
Lyrics
BEAUTIFULLY (THEN IT'S ART)
Stomped in the house, slammed the door
Threw my backpack on the floor
Dad asked me, "What did you do that for?"
I said, "I'm not going to school anymore!"
I took a paper out for him to see
I explained, "I tried to draw a tree,
But the teacher couldn't tell what it's supposed to be,
And then one of the other kids laughed at me."
I kicked my bag and said, "I'm not artistic."
Dad said to me, "No need to go ballistic,
I understand why you feel pessimistic,
But let's just take a breath and be realistic . . .
Not everyone can do a dance or write a play
But everyone's an artist in his or her own way
Anything you do to the finish from the start,
If you do it beautifully, then it's art.
Your uncle can't paint, but he can bake a pie
Bursting full of apples, good enough to make you cry
Your grandma fixes cars so well that when she's through
The engine's running better than it did when it was new
And you know how Mama loves us with a heart so full
Even when you and I don't act so lovable?
None of them can really dance or write a play
But each of them's an artist in his or her own way
Because anything they do to the finish from the start,
When they do it beautifully, then it's art.
It isn't something separate made by someone set apart
It's what you put out in the world that comes from in your heart
Anything you do to the finish from the start
If you do it beautifully
Not perfectly, but beautifully
There's no such thing as perfectly, but you can do it beautifully
And then it's art.