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Eric Baylin's
Songs to Brighten
A Teacher's Day

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Spring is definitely a time for renewal in so many ways, not the least of which is a teacher's brief respite from the ongoing pressures of the classroom. Just give us some time to breathe freely without the chatter of little voices, some time to catch our breath and gather strength for the next long stretch towards summer. With a little time away we might just survive the year with our sense of humor intact.


About the Lyricist

Eric Baylin has been a teacher for 37 years, working with a variety of age levels in both public and private schools in New York and North Carolina. He currently works at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, a K-12 independent school established in 1854. In addition to teaching art and photography to middle- and high-school students, Eric coordinates a program of collaborative faculty study groups in Packer's professional development program.

I Might Survive

(To the melody for I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor)

The winter is beginning to wane, but so is my patience! It can be a long stretch from that distant December holiday time to spring break. I see it in my colleagues' faces, the "just-getting-by" look.

After six long months,
We're exhausted now.
Don't think that I could teach
Another day; I don't know how.
Oh, I spent so many nights
Planning lessons left and right;
It takes so long,
Didn't think I could go on,
And now it's time.
We need a break now.
Time to close up all those notebooks,
Time to lock up all these doors. You think it's easy teaching kids?
It's not easy; can't you see?
If you only knew how hard it was,
You'd never bother me.

We're gonna go; walk out the door.
Won't turn around now,
'Cause there 're no classes anymore.
We've got to part our ways;
It's time to say goodbye;
But don't you worry
Cause we won't lay down and die.
Oh no, not I.
We might survive.
As long as we can have a break,
We know that we can stay alive. We've got three more months to go,
If we take it nice and slow,
We might survive.
We might survive.

It took all the strength I had
Not to fall apart.
With all the things piled on my desk,
I don't know where to start.
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself.
I used to cry,
But soon I'll hold my head up high.
And you will see
somebody new.
After time spent in vacation mode,
I won't be sad and blue;
I'll be ready for the classroom;
I'll be ready, wait and see.
But for now I need some time alone,
Some time that's just for me.

We're gonna go, walk out the door,
Won't turn around now,
'Cause there're no classes anymore.
We've got to part our ways.
It's time to say goodbye,
But don't you worry
'Cause we won't lay down and die;
Oh no, not I.
We might survive.
As long as we can have a break,
We know that we can stay alive.
We've got three more months to go,
If we take it nice and slow,
We might survive.
We might survive.

Song lyrics Copyright© 2006 Eric Baylin