Now if I was a sailor man, sailing on the seven seas, I'd take a cargo load of trouble far away from you and me,
If I had my own jet plane, flying high up in the blue, I'd take all fear and all confusion far away from me and you.

I can't be these things I say,
I wish I could, but there's no way,
I know I will always be all that you want me to be.

Now if I was a travelling man, travelling to different lands, I'd take all the hate and violence and bury them in desert sand,
And if I was a better man, doing better than I am, I'd take that trash called bigotry and watch it burn like tinder can.

But I can't be these things I say,
I wish I could, but there's no way,
But I know I will always be all that you want me to be,
I can't be these things I say,
I wish I could, but there's no way,
But I know I can always be all that you want me to be.

Now if I was a smarter man, with a mind I couldn't hide, I'd solve the problems of the world and the universe beside,
And if I was an older man, with wisdom that arrives with years, I'd stand with those who hurt inside and I would wipe away their tears.

But I can't be these things I say,
Wish I could, but there's no way,
But I know I can always be all that you want me to be.

But I can't be these things I say,
I wish I could, but there's no way,
But I know I can always be all that you want me to be.