"Learning someone's language helps you see things their way." Do you know any sign language?
Jennifer Montgomery was the first friend that I made I was new to Lincoln School, we were both in 4th Grade First week of September, in the water-fountain line She turned around and suddenly spoke to me in sign (language, that is)
Well, at first I didn’t get it when I saw her standing there Her hands were making shapes and waving in the air But Jennifer kept trying ‘till I got it through my head And I finally figured out that this was what she said:
(Chorus:) I can hear with my eyes, and talk with my hands I can be anything if I believe I can I can hear with my eyes, and talk with my hands and you might be surprised at all I understand.
We held our conversations at recess in the yard At first, communication was kind of slow and hard But Jennifer was patient, and I learned to finger-spell By winter vacation, I could say as well:
(Chorus)
(Bridge:) Some of the other kids at school would laugh at Jenny and be cruel I thought my teacher would understand, so I talked to him and we came up with this plan
Next day, my homeroom teacher said, “Listen closely, class - We’ve got a brand-new subject, which everyone must pass.” And I smiled like a tiger, when my friend Jenny came right up to the blackboard and showed everyone her name.
Well, at first kids were complaining as she taught us every day Still, learning someone’s language helps you see things their way And every week a few more kids would ask Jenny to play When school let out for summer, our whole class could sign and say:
(Final Chorus:) We can hear with our eyes, and talk with our hands We can be anything if we believe we can We can hear with our eyes, and talk with our hands And you might be surprised at all we understand.
