One time I wished that a lion would come
And eat up my house and my street.
I was mad at the world
And I wished that the beast,
Would stomp everything
With his big heavy feet,
And eat everything
With his big sharp teeth,
And eat everything
With his teeth.
But that wish certainly didn’t come true,
‘Cause scary, mad wishes don’t make things come true.

One time I wished that a dragon would come
And burn up my Daddy’s big store.
I was angry with him
‘Cause I wanted to play
But my Daddy just went
To his store right away.
I wished that the dragon
Would burn his store,
I wished it would burn Daddy’s store.
But that wish certainly didn’t come true,
‘Cause scary, mad wishes don’t make things come true.

Everyone wishes for scary, mad things.
I’d guess that you sometimes do, too.
I’ve wished for so many
And I can say,
That all kinds of wishes
Are things just like play.
They’re things
That our thinking has made,
So wish then
And don’t be afraid.
I’m glad it’s certainly that way, aren’t you?
That scary, mad wishes don’t make things come true.
No kinds of wishes make things come true.

Music and Lyrics by Fred M. Rogers. © McFeely-Rogers Foundation.

All Rights Reserved.