(+) Sunscreen
Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97
Wear sunscreen
If I could offer you only one tip for the future
Sunscreen would be it
The long term benefits of sunscreen
Have been proved
By scientists whereas the rest of
My advice has no basis
More reliable than my own
Meandering experience
I will dispense this advice now
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth
Or never mind
You will not understand the power
And beauty of your youth
Until they have faded
But trust me in 20 years you'll look back
At photos of yourself and recall in a way
You can't grasp now how much possibility lay
Before you and how fabulous
You really looked
You are not as fat as you imagine
Don't worry about the future Or worry
But know that worrying is as effective
As trying to solve an algebra
Equation by chewing
Bubblegum the real troubles in your life are
Apt to be things that
Never crossed your worried mind
The kind that blindside you at 4 pm
On some idle tuesday
Do one thing every day that scares you
Sing
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts
Don't put up with people
Who are reckless with yours
Floss
Don't waste your time on jealousy
Sometimes you're ahead
Sometimes you're behind
The race is long and in the end
It's only with yourself
Remember the compliments you receive
Forget the insults
If you succeed in doing this tell me how
Keep your old love letters
Throw away your old bank statements
Stretch
Don't feel guilty
If you don't know what you want to do with your
Life the most interesting people
I know didn't know at 22
What they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting
40 year olds I know still don't
Get plenty of calcium
Be kind to your knees
You'll miss them when they're gone
Maybe you'll marry maybe you won't
Maybe you'll have children maybe you won't
Maybe you'll divorce at 40
Maybe you'll dance the funky chicken
On your 75th wedding anniversary
Whatever you do
Don't congratulate yourself too much
Or berate yourself either
Your choices are half chance
So are everybody else's
Enjoy your body use it every way you can
Don't be afraid of it
Or what other people think of it
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own
Dance even if you have nowhere to do it
But in your own living room
Read the directions
Even if you don't follow them
Do not read beauty magazines
They will only make you feel ugly
Brother and sister
Together we'll make it through
Someday our spirits
Will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting
But I've been waiting to be there for you
And I'll be there just helping you out
Whenever I can
Get to know your parents
You never know when they'll be gone for good
Be nice to your siblings
They are your best link to your past and the
People most likely to stick with you
In the future
Understand that friends come and go
But for the precious few you
Should hold on
Work hard to bridge the gaps
In geography and lifestyle
Because the older you get
The more you need the people you knew
When you were young
Live in new york city once
But leave before it makes you hard
Live in northern california once
But leave before it makes you soft
Travel
Accept certain inalienable truths
Prices will rise politicians will philander
You too will get old and when you do
You'll fantasize that
When you were young prices were reasonable
Politicians were noble
And children respected their elders
Respect your elders
Don't expect anyone else to support you
Maybe you have a trust fund
Maybe you have a wealthy spouse
But you never know
When either one might run out
Don't mess too much with your hair
Or by the time you're 40 it will look 85
Be careful whose advice you buy
But be patient with those who supply it
Advice is a form of nostalgia
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
From the disposal
Wiping it off painting over the ugly parts
And recycling it
For more than it's worth
But trust me on the sunscreen
Brother and sister
Together we'll make it through
Someday our spirits
Will take you and guide you there
I know you've been hurting
But I've been waiting to be there for you
And I'll be there just helping you out
Whenever I can
Everybody's free
Everybody's free
Oh yeah
Don't you fear