use it up

Grandma used to say to me
“Wasteful is no way to be
Don’t be quick to buy more stuff
Don’t you think you have enough?
Here’s the way we made it through
Back in World War II:

We said
‘Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without.’”

But when I take a look around
Seems I let my Grandma down
Every day my trash is full
Of things that are disposable
Things that I threw out in haste, so much goes to waste
If a brand new clock is cheap
I throw the old one on the heap
I don’t use my rug shampoo
I’ll buy a rug that’s new
No, my wasteful days are gone,
And so from now on…

I will
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without

You can change your habits too
Have a cobbler fix your shoe
How’s about that paring knife
Has it got a bit more life?
Can you use it one more time
Though it’s past its prime?
If a toy should break in two
You can fix it with some glue
Don’t just throw old things away
(You’ll be old yourself some day!)
Once this kind of trend begins
Everybody wins
(Come on!)

Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without

Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without
Use it up, wear it out,
Make it do or do without