tom the fool plays it cool
in the eyes of those who wish him ill
he’s in no rush to decide
whether to tell the truth or lie

tom the fool will put himself down
he will kick a cannonball and drown
and tom will engage in trickery
slick, slimy scents of hickory

give the geese a piece of bread
and slice the swans some cheese
toss a tomato to the titmouse
and learn the louse some sleaze

who are you to argue?
who are you to get steamed?
who are you to raise discontent?
who are you in the grand scheme?

sit and stew on that for a while
as tom the fool cracks a smile
tom will be a clown for you
and you’ll find yourself grinning, too

good grief, good gravy, good grandmother’s pie
bad luck, bad times, bad way to get by
keep it to yourself, and keep it real close
tom the fool has abandoned his post