They Should Have Shut Down the Streets

They should have shut down all the streets

Presidents and kings should have been there

With not a single empty seat

All the schools closed, and the roads we drove down all lined

Lined with people cap in hand and crying

That went on for miles and miles and miles and miles

They should have shut down all the streets

All the papers plastered with tributes

We should have asked for privacy

Though we understand it that some want to share their pain

We would ask to grieve this in our quiet way

And they should have asked again and again and again

They should have shut down all the streets

All the bouquets piled on the doorstep

And pages filled with crayon hearts

That a second grade class had made in their school that day

Because the teacher had to give in some small way

And there weren't that many ways left for her to say it

They should have shut down all the streets