Famous for What?
I asked my class what everyone wanted to be
And a lot of them told me a celebrity
In magazines in television
On football fields or worldwide singing
We went round the class with everyone giving an answer.
Then I asked her.
What do you want to be? What would be your dream job?
She said she was going to be famous, Miss
and everybody scoffed
She doesn’t talk a lot you see just sits and licks her lip gloss in lessons
She said shut up, she’s going become famous and everybody laughed again
I turned around and asked her ‘for what then?
She looked shocked
And didn’t understand
I said I’d like to hear your plans and how you’ll get that life then
I repeated what I said I said
I said ‘famous for what, then cos
I hear young people say this all the time they say it more and more
She twitched a bit and bit her lip and looked down at the floor
She said she just meant really famous, rich, and didn’t really know what for
Well bigger boobs and Big Brother that’s all been done to death I said
A few have famous families who get them in ahead
Actors, sports and music stars they all work very hard I said
People who are famous are not all just the same
She said her best friend kissed a footballer now everybody knows her name
I said my best friend saved a life today and no one knows her face
Loads of folks are photographed for their clothes or who they kiss at night
But some are really famous for more than how they show their life
Famous TV chefs she says, I smile and say that’s right
But there are famous people all around you might not know from sight
People who write your favourite stories but don’t glory in the limelight
Many people who you’d think look boring I think you should look twice cos some are
Famous for inventing things you use or new discoveries
Famous for the places they have seen and been uncovering
Some are famous for the people or the countries that they help
Other folks are famous for the products that you buy they sell
Some people are famous for their songs or books or magazines
Not those in the photo spots but the ones who write behind the scenes
Some people are famous for drawing beautifully and adding things
She said she wished she had shaped lips that kissed like Kim Kardashian
I said me too they’re really nice but that would not change anything
She said she cannot sing, I said to her so what
There are so many other things you could be famous for
She said she doesn’t see those people
How would she ever choose
I said think about the things that really mean a lot to you
The things that make you happier the things you love to use
The rules you might not like or the laws that all affect you
She said she hates her school and the subjects that she’s taking
I said then go become a famous Minister of Education
Cos someone is in charge of your school, your hospital, your food, your money
Someone decides on all the stuff you have to learn and study
What age you have to be to do things you want to do and play
People make up all the rules you have to follow every day
What medicines you use when ill or how much your work will pay
Decide if you might go to war one day or how to lower violence rates
How many playgrounds we should build, how many plants or grass or trees
And none of these people are YouTube hit celebrities
But the affect they have upon your life is huge your friends your families
All I’m saying is not everyone that does stuff is in magazines
And there are so many options and you could do much more
And if you still want to be famous
Just remember to find out what for.