Participation Award from Participation Award by Jude Perl

My 3rd grade teacher told me
Life’s not a race
But sports day carnival, feels a lot like a race
Everybody's running at their fastest pace
But you know you get more stage time if you come in last place

All that counts is that you tried
But only 3 best runners get a prize

I don’t care for all the winners and ranks
What does it even mean?
The only reason that I lost this race
Is cause everyone else ran faster than me

And I was the worst basketball player
Every shot I took missed the backboard
But I showed up to every single game
So give me my participation award

My drama teacher told me back in 2004
There’s no such thing as small roles, only small actors
But if no ones contribution is worth less or more
How come some names literally take up more space on a movie poster

I tried out for Roxie Hart
But I was cast as ‘man with scarf’
I don’t care for all the lead roles with “lines”
Wearing costumes that fit like they should
The only reason I’m not playing that part
Is cause my audition wasn’t that good

But I was on stage, I stood where they told me
My character remained un-explored
But I showed up to Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday rehearsals
So give me my participation award

Everybody told me to try my best
From my grandma, to my horoscope, to my therapist
People love a story where hard work becomes success
But if you try and you’re still shit then no one’s impressed

You can do anything, if you don’t quit
As long you as you don’t mind being bad at it
I don’t care for being high class and rich
Showing off all of your wealth
The only reason that I’m stuck in this job
Is cause I’m not good at anything else

But if I play my cards right
I’ll live passed 60
And I’ll have blown what little money I have
I’ll be sitting alone
Watching Robot Oprah Winfrey
When my life before my eyes starts to flash

I showed up even when nobody asked me
I kept running when all the others passed me
I’m still dancing even though nobody cast me
I might not win, but I lose enthusiastically

So give me my
Certified
Bulk supplied
Participation Award

• Comedy
• Pop
• R&B
• Soul
• funk
• Melbourne