I was with my mom in the woods.
She said, "Look here, son, for your own good.
That's poison ivy, make you itch everywhere.
It's got three shiny leaves, better leave it there."
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
Don't you touch or take it anywhere.
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
It's not safe, so leave it there.
Since that day, I've learned so much.
There's lot of stuff, I shouldn't touch.
Like gasoline, or a red hot stove
or someone's pills. Now I know.
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
Don't you touch or take it anywhere.
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
It's not safe, so leave it there.
I was with my friend, right next door.
We found a gun, inside a drawer.
He reached for it, but I felt scared.
I said, "Stop right now, leave it there."
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
Don't you touch or take it anywhere.
Leave it, leave it, leave it there.
It's not safe, so leave it there.
When we were asked to write a song about gun safety, we felt very sad that teaching young children about guns was necessary. But as we asked around, other EC teachers encouraged us to finish it. It is one of the most difficult songs we've written together, and it changed many times before this version. It became a wider safety song when our good friend, Bruce O'Brien, suggested the poison ivy story idea.
Though controversial, handguns are much more prevalent and accessible in our society than we often want to admit. Children do come upon them. We hope this chorus will stick with them if they do encounter a gun or other unsafe objects or materials.
You can use this song as a base to think of other objects to leave in place besides the ones we mentioned. Make up your own verse including those objects. Don't worry about the rhyme.
Please feel free to change it for your own needs. We look forward to hearing your changes and comments.
Our songs for children about peace and justice, resolving conflicts, and celebrating our global family are more important than ever in these troubled times. These Peace Resources are intended to help us all move forward with hope and tools for song and action as we work together to build a healthier, more peaceful world.