WHAT’S YOUR BRAND, WHAT’S YOUR LABEL?

by Stan C. Countz

You know you’re battin’ zero when the villain is your hero
It’s enough to drive a good man to tears
You’ve reached rock bottom when the best you’ve ever gotten
Is Paris Hilton or Britney Spears

These days they pierce a lot more than just their ears
It’s time we face our forgotten fears
Whatever happened to shoppin’ at JC Penney and Sears?
The answer is pretty clear

What’s your brand? What’s your label?
NorCal, SoCal or just what’s on sale?
Can you mix with other clans and cliques?
Do you subscribe to satellite or cable?

If you’re not the same brand or label
Are you able to sit at the same lunch table?
Can your friendship withstand it or is it too unstable?
Tell me more if you’re able

What’s hot and what’s not? Have they got what you want
at Hot Topic, Hollister, Zumiez or Claires?
It’s not just the rich who shop at Abercrombie and Fitch
What if we switch from baggies to flares?

How do we know where to go to get extensions for our hair?
It may sound funny and a bit unfair but when Wolfman Jack
was on the air, we could always tell Sonny from Cher
Today they just don’t care

Today you gotta know if they’re Bro or Emo, Goth or Prep
Do they prefer screamo, country, hip hop or rap?
Should we shop at d.e.m.o., Hollister, Hot Topic or Gap?
Do they wear lots of color or only grays and blacks?

Do they prefer the Whopper or the Big Mac?
Do they have sudden outbursts or panic attacks?
Do they prefer ballet, or tap? PC or Mac? GMC or Cadillac?
Where do they stand on the war in Iraq?

Are they a cutter or a gamer, do they stutter or wear retainers?
Are they personal trainers, oil painters or entertainers?
We’ve noted the disclaimers and checked off the boxes
Now we can choose between the "dogs" and the "foxes"

It’s not that strange to see the guys dress like girls
And the girls dress like guys; don’t buy into the lies
Look into each other’s eyes; who would we be
Without the disguise? We'll be cut down to size

Some can’t decide if they’re prep or scene
Girls dress in guys’ briefs and guys in girls’ jeans
Some eat only greens; some will eat meat
Some will eat hearty and some hardly eat

Some are messy, some are neat; some are mean, some are sweet
Some are big; some petite; some are strong; some are weak
But one thing is for sure; we’re all unique

Cliques and clans are great for bands but I’ve got a plan
for my own brand and I’m callin’ it mine
If they ask for the label, I’ll tell ‘em to read the sign:
“I’m made by hand, I’m one of a kind”

Some are smart and wise; some have been shunned and marginalized
If some could multiply, add or divide, I’d be surprised
Some are hard to recognize; some have their hands in too many pies
but everyone is a legend in their own mind

Society at large is too compartmentalized
If I were in charge, I’d stop the press and stop the lies
Tell everyone to look into each other’s eyes
and see each other for who we are with no disguise

It’s time we turned the tables; if we can and if we’re able
Let’s forget the brand and forget the label
I met a man who was born in a stable; good and bad sat at His table
He had no brand; He had no label

He was just Himself, He wasn't tryin' to be anyone else
How can we love our neighbor if we can’t love ourself?
So just be the best you that you can be; just be yourself
and you will see what He can enable you to do and be

Our heroes once were John Wayne and Clark Gable
Greta Garbo and Betty Grabel
We had Johnny Carson and Johnny Quest
Queen for a Day and Father Knows Best

Who cares if you’re a Skater or Prep
Scene, Emo, Bro or who knows what’s next?
Accept each other for who and what you are
Reach out to your bro and you’ll go far