Shades of Gray
When the world and I were young just yesterday.
Life was such a simple game a child could play.
It was easy then to tell
Right from wrong
Easy then to tell
Weak from strong,
When a man should stand and fight
Or just go along.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray.
I remember when the answers seemed so clear,
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear.
It was easy then to tell
Truth from lies
Selling out
From compromise
Who to love and who to hate
The foolish from the wise.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray.
It was easy then to know
What was fair
When to keep
And when to share
How much to protect your heart
And how much to care.
But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray.
Farewell and thank you, Davy Jones.
From Monkees Headquarters
Words and Music by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Copyright 1966 by Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc.
6920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
All Rights Reserved
Lyrics from reprint of 1966 sheet music
Source: monkees.net