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Loudon Wainwright Iii No

You can say no
To the beggar in the street
And to the zealot with the blissed-out smile
No to the dog and the parakeet
No to the crying child

You can say no
To the waiter who's pushing the twelve-day old cole slaw
You can say no
To your uncle or your brother
Your father or your father-in-law

You can answer no
To a Gallup poll
And vote no in a voting booth
You can refuse the facts
You can refute the truth

No on the load of your lawn mower
To the neighbor who lives next door
You can say no to the bartender
When he starts to pour one more

But you can't no
No, to that woman
No, to that woman

You can say no
To the bully or the boss
Fat belly with the big cigar
You can say no
To the sergeant-at-arms
And the Sheriff with the shining star

You can say no
To sure success
You can say no
To the devil in the desert
And you can say no to yourself