Howard Jones, "Specialty"

My father, the constant audiophile, bought a CD player while most of us were still listening to vinyl and tapes.

Back then, the CD of any release always had bonus tracks. He bought me a CD of Howard Jones, Dream Into Action, because he could tell how much that man inspired me. I had almost worn out my vinyl copy.

I appreciated it, because CD's did not come cheap at that time. I appreciated it even more when I heard those bonus tracks.

This one used to bring me close to tears, because it was so on the mark. It still does.

Howard Jones, "Specialty", from Dream Into Action (1985)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1uIAeP0L90

 Don't chop off his head
To make yourself look tall
Don't tear a strip off
To make yourself feel wonderful
Who wants to compare
As if this was a competition
Leave that to teachers at school
Must preserve their tradition

'Bout time you realized
You are a specialty
There is no one like you
Spend your life worrying
'Bout what you could have been
Can't you like being you

Don't need a scalp
Don't need to be a juror
Take care of yourself
No need to feel so insecure
Waste of energy
To prove a holier than him
Waste of energy
To find out who commits what sin

'Bout time you realized
You are a specialty
There is no one like you
Spend your life worrying
'Bout what could have been
Can't you like being you