I was supposed to have been a Jesuit priest or a Naval Academy grad That was the way that my parents perceived me Those were the plans that they had Though I couldn't fit the part too dumb or too smart Ain't it funny how we all turned out I guess we are the people our parents warned us about You know I could have worked the rigs when the money was big Or hopped a freighter south to Trinidad And when they tried to draft me I earned a college degree Buyin' time till things were not so bad But when I got a guitar found a job in a bar, playin' acid rock til I was numb Tell me where are the flashbacks they all warned us would come. We are the people they couldn't figure out We are the people our parents warned us about Hey hey, Gardner McKay, take us on the leaky Tiki with you Clear skies bound for Shanghai, sailin' on the ocean blue Now I got quarters in my loafers tryin' to fight inflation When it only used to take a cent Sometimes I wish I was back in my crash pad days before I knew what cash flow meant Seems everybody's joggin' or heavy into health shit Don't tell me that I ought to get rolfed 'Cause I love cajun martinis and playin' afternoon golf We are the people there isn't any doubt We are the people they still can't figure out We are the people who love to sing 'Twist and Shout' (Shake it up, baby, now) We are the people our parents warned us about