What Gives You the Right?

What gives you the right to put up this wire,

A monkey in a cage with his veins on fire

What gives you the right to cage in this cat?

What makes you think you’re above the rat?

Don’t tell me I’m blind with emotions

Don’t speak of your human devotion

You say that I’ve got no reason to fight

Tell me, what gives you the right.

What gives you the right to play the god,

Misuse the trust of a frightened dog

If he should howl, cut out his voice,

Locked behind bars was never his choice

Don’t tell me I’m blind with emotion

Don’t speak of your human devotion

You say that I’ve got no reason to fight,

Tell me, what gives you the right.

     Take all your needles, take all your knives

     Dig deep in yourself, see if you survive

     The fear you create it brings only shame,

     The touch of your hand only brings more pain -

What gives you the right, in the name of science

To use these creatures who suffer in silence

What gives you the right to think you’re above?

The lives that you take only wanted your love -

Don’t tell me I”m blind with emotion

Don’t speak of your human devotion

You say that I’ve got no reason to fight

Tell me, what gives you the right?

How can you sleep at night?

Tell me, what gives you the right?

Nancy Simmonds

Soap Opry Music

special guest singer, Leo Downey