Stuart And Noah Lyrics > Caroline, or Change

ROSE
Please, Caroline, keep the change.

STUART
Noah, you?re nine years old.

NOAH
No I?m not I?m eight.

STUART
Eight? Only eight?
But you?re in fourth grade now.

NOAH
No, I?m in third.

STUART
Really, you?re sure?
Isn?t that weird.
It?s like a whole year just?
I don?t know, just disappeared.
I have to get back to the clarinet.
practice the cello.

NOAH
I gave up the cello, dad.

STUART
Oh right. You did.
I remember. You?re a funny kid.
Your mother loved the cello.

NOAH
Can I go?

STUART
It?s time that you should demonstrate
more responsibility.
Help Rose with the groceries,
that kind of thing.
In return I?m giving you
a dollar fifty every week
allowance. You can use it as you like but I?

NOAH
Buy buy
buy buy buy!

STUART
?I hope you?ll save it
till you?re older
buy yourself
a chemistry set.

NOAH
Bubblegum, cigarettes
sea monkeys,
comic books,
Barbie Doll dresses on the sly!
Buy buy
buy buy buy!

STUART
That?s what I wanted back when I
was a boy,
a great big shiny chemistry set.

CAROLINE
There?s almost a dollar
some weeks in the bleach cup.
My kids could go down to the dime store and get
the shiny junk they make to catch a kid?s eye.
And what they sees and what they wants
they could buy.
Stuff I can?t buy em now,
always in the lurch.
Some weeks I could even tithe at Church.

STUART (with CAROLINE)
A great big shiny chemistry set!
With test tubes, a spirit lamp,
powders, and flame.
Do you want a chemistry set?

NOAH
No.

STUART
Oh. Well, that?s a shame.
It?s your money Noah, so please
keep in mind?

ROSE
Caroline keeps what Caroline finds.

NOAH
That night I leave a dime and a nickel
in my pants pocket
to see what will happen;
Caroline finds them.

CAROLINE
They go in the bleach cup.

NOAH
They sit there all week,
fifteen cents, fifteen cents,
five jawbreakers,
a big bag of red hots,
a Daredevil comic book,
fifteen cents!

CAROLINE (with Noah)
They sit there all week.
Fifteen cents, fifteen cents,
a bag of sugary things
stain the mouth orange
stain the teeth green
that upset the stomach?
A grown woman got no business
taking pennies from a baby.


Last Update: June, 10th 2013