DADDY BUY ME AN ELEPHANT

I was browsing in a store today
Found a photo of a little girl standing next to an elephant
Reminded me of the time when you were four
Asking me for an elephant

Of course the answer was no
You reasoned and you pried
Came up with answers to where he would sleep and dine
For two solid weeks you cried and begged and weeped

Then one day I come home and you changed your request
Alright, if I can't have an elephant I'll take a Gerbil instead
Magic words spoken to a dad who was relieved
Not to hear Daddy buy me an elephant pleaseeee

I turned around before I hit the door
Off to the local pet store
I brought you two Gerbils and all the stuff
To fit into cages, spinning wheel, water bottle and food

As I was leaving on the Gerbil Mission relieved
The elephant request was gone
You looked up at your mother and said Thats Want I Really Wanted
If I had asked for that first the answer would have been no

So the four year old got over on her father
And she knew how to win
Ask for something bigger than what you really want
Not sure how she learned that but I think her mom taught her well

All I know is she got over
She won the bigger prize
She learned how to control her father
I've been losing ever since.

So dads beware when your daughter
Looks up to you with teary little eyes and says
I want an elephant
Just go buy a Gerbil instead

Copyright August 2004
Kerry 'Doc' Pardue