When I die

When I die the world will carry on?

They say.

But what could happen without me?

I say.

I am so important I cannot leave just yet

 I pay all my dues and taxes

 And joined the village choir

I recycle all my rubbish

 And vote in all elections

I help old ladies cross the road

and sometimes pick up litter

I read about the scandals

 In someone else's life

Will those of mine stay hidden

 Or will they come to light

Will anybody remember if I'm black or white

And does it really matter if I reached the heights

Or plumbed the depths and robbed a bank

And donated most to Oxfam

Oh yes I'm so important

I've been and done so much

I've learnt to cook and speak Chinese

And chaired the rugby club

I wash my car once every week

And mowed that pesky lawn

I'm sure I don't deserve to die

After all that I have done

But soon they'll help me cross that road

And nobody will remember

And even though I'm dead and gone

The world will carry on.