I Know Things Now

[LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]
Mother said
"Straight ahead"
Not to delay
Or be misled
I should have heeded
Her advice...
But he seemed so nice

And he showed me things
Many beautiful things
That I hadn't thought to explore
They were off my path
So I never had dared
I had been so careful
I never had cared
And he made me feel excited—
Well, excited and scared

When he said, "Come in!"
With that sickening grin
How could I know what was in store?
Once his teeth were bared
Though, I really got scared—
Well, excited and scared

But he drew me close
And he swallowed me down
Down a dark, slimy path
Where lie secrets that I never want to know
And when everything familiar
Seemed to disappear forever
At the end of the path
Was Granny once again

So we wait in the dark
Until someone sets us free
And we're brought into the light
And we're back at the start

And I know things now
Many valuable things
That I hadn't known before:
Do not put your faith
In a cape and a hood
They will not protect you
The way that they should
And take extra care with strangers—
Even flowers have their dangers
And though scary is exciting
Nice is different than good

Now I know
Don't be scared
Granny is right
Just be prepared
Isn't it nice to know a lot?
And a little bit not...