A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

Try Not to Stare lyrics
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Listen

Mind your manners at all times and places
Be polite on a regular basis
Say Buenos dias as someone approaches,
Or, if it's evening, say Bueno noches.
Please and thank you go a long way.
Or Merci and s'il vous plait
Don't butt in if it's not your affair
And please try not to stare

Please try not to stare
At that man with a snake round his neck
And platform shoes and birdcage hair
It's a free country so what the heck
He has his reasons, I'm sure, mon cher
And everyone has their burdens to bear
So please
Don't stare.

Everyone is somewhat unique
One man's normal is another man's freak
You can go to Rome and try to be Roman
But they'll know you're a Texan. Or Oklahoman.
Or wherever you happen to be from.
You too may stick out like a sore thumb.
Do you want folks to point at you and declare
He's not one of us. He's from back there?

Please try not to stare
At that gentleman playing with food
Who is making a mess with a chocolate éclair
And it does appear that he's nude.
He has his reasons, I'm sure, mon cher,
And everyone has their burdens to bear,
So please
Don't stare.

Yes, her neckline is rather low,
But it is San Francisco
And unless you're an infant who needs to be fed.
Please put your eyes back in your head.
There is a famous man out on the street.
Don't yell his name, don't kneel at his feet
He may be engaged in prayer.
His stock went down ten dollars a share.

Please try not to stare
At people who are definitely odd
Don't point and laugh, don't holler and swear
Just smile gently and give them a nod.
They have their reasons, I'm sure, mon cher,
And everyone has their burdens to bear,
So please
Don't stare.

So please
Don't stare.