I'm Not Too Young

I'm not too young to fall in love I'm not too young to smoke I'm not too young to defend myself if ever I'm provoked I'm not too young you mark my words to be left on the shelf I'm not too young I'm over one Next year I will be twelve I'm not as daft as one might think if one's the word to use For why not instead of one Mustn't one instead use twos I won't say that it makes it any easier but still it goes to show That one can do what one must do with twos or threes or fours And while we're on the subject let me say that for a start although I failed my eleven plus I really did try hard And I've come to this conclusion right or wrong about exams You pass only because your memory failed to go blank I'm not too young to pay the price for things I didn't do I'm not too young they tell me so I guess it must be true I'm not too young to cry out loud in Northern Ireland name I'm not too young I'm everyone a bomb has ever maimed And by and large it's true to say that even as we speak A child not out in Africa but believe it or not here Is learning what it feels like to exist without much food And waits in what he calls his home to be forcibly removed I'm not too young to contract AIDS but even in the womb My mother can inject herself and thus ensure my doom I'm not too young you mark my words to be beaten black and blue I'm not too young I'm over one next year I will be two