Say It Ain't So

ain't's not so bad, just stop and think
can't be too bad 'cause it rhymes with saint
but most do avoid using this word
wonder why they fear this little o' word

ain't's not a word the smart folk say
but if ain't's not a word, well that's absurd
if ain't's not said in normal converse
then shut my mouth and put me in a hearse

one can be smart, even a genius you see
but the words you use don't make you who you be
words are just letters, all strung in a row
struck in certain order, by whom we don't know

Now,
who contrived these rules
these lords of  written words
who made the laws of speech
the rules of spoken words

and where are these folks
that made these rules
'betcha most these folks
are still stuck in school

educated to the limit
they've surely learned a lot
but to speak with common folk
well, this they ain't got

words so high and mighty
that sound really great
what good do they do
if they don't communicate

so here's a little test
if you're willing to try
just go ahead and do it
now don't be shy

you gotta practice out loud
and try with all your might
with more and more practice
you'll soon get it right

must give you fair warning
'cause once this you try
when it becomes a habit
there's no going back

Now,
try saying "Aunt", like you're still saying  ain't
say I love "Ain't" Jill, like I love Uncle Bill
like it's said down south, go ahead let it out
don't you feel much better
don't it make you want to shout

now say these sayings, these sayings of old
"say it ain't so" as we say about Joe
say there  "ain't no way, no how", now that makes the point
now say "there is no way, any how"
geeze, that throws my jaw out of joint

try these words, see what you think
like "am not" and "is not" compared to saying ain't
don't  you feel your ears listening in pure delight
thinking, man what a word, this word is just right

so now you're learning, this word so maligned
with practice you can do it, just give it some time
then you can jump right in with most any folk
and it won't be long, you'll be using it in jokes
and talking like all of us regular folk

Now ain't that a hoot