It wasn't funny

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I read over a blog entry this morning my cousin made about the song, “Don’t Laugh at Me” originally performed by Peter, Paul, & Mary. It reminded me of another version of this song I shared with my class last year as part of a song lyric study we do.

I listened to the song about thirty times and I still question all of the lyrics I was able to get down because of how quickly the artist sings them. However, the main point is that the message is clear…to not get our feelings of superiority or to laugh at the expense of others.

As I was looking for the video to this song to post, I came across several videos on YouTube where someone had convinced an overweight boy to dance crazily or someone was recorded doing a face-plant at the beach. Labels on these videos included things like, “Funniest Video Ever” or “This one will make you laugh!”

Sadly, they all came up when I typed in the search string of words, “Don’t Laugh.”

I remember feeling sickened as a roommate I had when I went to college was laughing hysterically at a video online, and called us all over to see what was so great. Curious, I walked over to his computer and he showed me a video of a man who decided to jaywalk. A car hit him and the man must have flown twenty feet down the street, landing in a crumpled heap on the asphalt. My roommate broke into fits of laughter saying, “Isn’t that the funniest thing ever!?”

I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen and how someone could trivialize it; shrugging it all off with, “Oh, they planned to hit him like that and the guy probably knew about it.”

It didn’t matter. It was not funny.

Sometimes it shocks me because of the things we view in society today as being ‘funny,’ or the photo we have to forward because it’s just so great.

I apologize about the lyrics if you read over them and discover that they are incorrect…like I said, he sings pretty fast.

Thanks, 'J' for reminding me.

Don’t Laugh at Me
Baby Jay

I’m the one they laughing at ‘cause my glasses on
Getting’ called a geek, never show my teeth, got braces on
And I know how it is to have to cry myself to sleep
What can I do, I guess I’ll just sit here myself and I weep

Is it just me, or do the others see flaws in my appearance?
It’s good to see they always find something to laugh hysteric
Or is it ‘cause I’m last there to get chosen this round
The out-of-dated playground’s clown when this was his time

Well I guess it is the truth ‘cause you choose who you want to mess with
You want to make fun of me? Then stand in my shoes for a second
Well is it too much to ask? ‘cause I’m here to listen: don’t pass me up
Don’t have to be my friend

(Don’t laugh at me)
Don’t call me names
Don’t get your pleasure from my pain
In God’s eyes we all the same
Someday we all have perfect wings
Don’t laugh at me (uh, uh)
Don’t laugh at me

(In God’s eyes, we’re all the same)
In God’s eyes we all the same
(Someday we’ll all have perfect wings)
Someday we’ll all have perfect wings

The cost of livin’ that’s risen slapped me in criticism prison
It isn’t ‘bout who you are, or more but ‘bout what one is driven
Everyone’s lust for material riches is what really eats me up
A moment to say hello, Billy will on these streets we flow

People stare at handicapped; they kept looking for Bi-C
Had we ever met and spend when you pass out eyes never meet
I guess it’s not surprising, I’m never, it’s just like in the street
Last night I caught this bruise ‘cause I wouldn’t give up my bicycle

Because there was the fight for no reason,
I fight against the peer pressure
No beggars stealing chicken want you living for the street
Well is it too much to ask, ‘cause I’m here to listen: don’t pass me up
Don’t have to be my friend

(Don’t laugh at me)
Don’t call me names
Don’t get your pleasure from my pain
In God’s eyes we all the same
Someday we all have perfect wings
Don’t laugh at me (uh, uh)
Don’t laugh at me

(In God’s eyes, we’re all the same)
In God’s eyes we’re all the same
(Someday we’ll all have perfect wings)
Someday we’ll all have perfect wings

If we’re fat, thin, deaf, blind, short or tall
Well aren’t we all? Well aren’t we all?
So, if we’re fat, thin, deaf, blind, short or tall
Then aren’t we all? Then aren’t we all?
Even if we’re fat, thin, deaf, blind, short or tall
Well aren’t we all? Well aren’t we all?
So if we’re fat, thin, deaf, blind, short or tall
Then aren’t we all? Then aren’t we all?

Since we all have in common, don’t get your pleasure from my pain
In His eyes we all the same
Someday we’ll all have perfect wings
Someday we’ll all have perfect wings

(Don’t laugh at me)
Don’t call me names
Don’t get your pleasure from my pain
In God’s eyes we all the same
Someday we all have perfect wings
Don’t laugh at me (uh, uh)
Don’t laugh at me

(In God’s eyes we’re all the same)
In God’s eyes we’re all the same
(Someday we’ll all have perfect wings)
Someday we’ll all have perfect wings

(Don’t laugh at me)

Don’t laugh