Too Many Boys Kissing!

[Intro — sunny acoustic guitar, hand percussion, bright bass] Beach day! Someone brought three coolers, Someone forgot the ice, Someone's already lost a sandal— And we've been here five minutes. Perfect. [Verse 1] There's a girl with silver shoulders Turning sunlight into stars, Guy with scales asleep beneath An umbrella by the bar. Someone's blue from head to ankle, Someone's eight-foot-two and wide, Someone's got six lovely arms And every single one's applied To carrying snacks. [spoken] Now that's efficient. There are tails curled underneath chairs, Wings stretched open to the breeze, Bodies built in every fashion Nature ever thought to please. Big and little, soft and muscled, Strange and beautiful and free— And nobody's trying to hide a thing. God, that's lovely to me. [Chorus] It's Beach Day! Sunshine! Everybody come as you are! Stretch marks, scales and feathers, Every beautiful little scar! Nobody asking who ya should be, Nobody telling ya what's allowed, Just a hundred different kinds of gorgeous Laughing much too loud! And there's too many boys kissing— [pause] Each other! Oh, that's wonderful! Honestly, keep going, boys. Yer doing brilliant. [Verse 2] Saw this dark-haired lad by volleyball, Thought, Well, he's rather fit. Then this blond boy walked up smiling And just planted one on him. And I swear I nearly applauded. Actually— [clapping] I did. Dark-haired boy went scarlet. Blond one kissed him twice again. [Chloe laughing] Oh, this school is fantastic. Two girls tangled on a beach towel, Someone asks a third one out. Someone says, We're both together. Third one says, What's that rule out? I nearly choke upon me lemonade. Rebecca thumps me on the back. [spoken] No, no, I'm fine. I'm learning. Please continue. [Chorus] It's Beach Day! Bare feet! Every flavor underneath the sun! Somebody brought a water cannon— Now everybody bloody run! Nobody asking who ya should love, Nobody keeping bloody score, And there go those two boys kissing again— [spoken] I'm starting to think they're showing off. [backing voices] Chloe! [Chloe] What?! I'm supportive! It's too many boys kissing! Too many girls kissing! Everybody kissing everybody! What a ridiculous, Beautiful, Wonderful world! [Verse 3 — groove softens] And maybe that's what gets me. Not the kissing. Not really. It's how easy everybody makes it look To wonder who they wanna be. Someone likes somebody, So they tell 'em. Maybe yes. Maybe no. Maybe something lasts till autumn. Maybe summer lets it go. Nobody hears a warning Every time somebody smiles. Nobody measures one small kiss Against consequences stretching miles. [Pre-Chorus — quieter] And I'm happy. I really am. Wouldn't change a thing I see. I just wonder what it'd feel like If that easy belonged to me. [Chorus — restrained at first] It's Beach Day. Warm sun. Everybody come as you are. No one asking where you're going. Nobody says you've gone too far. And I can laugh and flirt beside 'em, Let some pretty stranger stare... But there's a little fence around me Nobody else can see from there. So I paint it green, Hang flowers on it, Pretend I put the bloody thing there. [Bridge — acoustic guitar and piano] Maybe someday I'll kiss somebody Without hearing all the reasons why A Quinn girl oughta think it through Before she even lets herself try. Maybe someday wanting someone Gets to only mean... I do. No ancient bargain in the bedroom. No family fear coming true. No brothers standing in the doorway. No shadow underneath the choice. Just somebody saying, Do ya want me? And me getting my own voice. [quietly] Yes. Or no. Or maybe. Wouldn't maybe be lovely? [beat — drums return] Anyway— Somebody just buried Rebecca in the sand. [Final Chorus — huge, joyful] IT'S BEACH DAY! SUNSHINE! Every beautiful shape and size! Green skin, blue skin, fur and feathers, Too many arms and gorgeous eyes! Girls kissing girls! Boys kissing boys! Someone's kissing— [pause] Actually, I don't know what they are. Good for them! Nobody asking who ya should be! Nobody telling ya how to love! And maybe freedom ain't me having Every answer from above. Maybe freedom starts with knowing When the answer finally comes— It oughta belong to me. So kiss whoever makes ya happy! Hold whoever holds ya right! I'll be here beneath me sunglasses Getting freckles in the light! And if those boys start kissing again— [cheering in background] There they go! [Chloe, delighted] OH, COME ON! At least let the rest of us compete! [Outro — lazy guitar, surf, distant laughter] Warm sand. Cold lemonade. Beautiful people everywhere. And for one afternoon... The fence feels just a little farther away.