Necessary, True, and Kind

Have I put my big old foot in my mouth again
Have I crossed a line I never should have crossed
Your reaction to my words has got me thinkin'
Can I retract that thoughtless statement that I tossed
You know I didn't really mean for it to sound that way
Sometimes my mouth just springs a leak
So I took a little look inside that mirror
And now I ask my self three things before I speak
Is it necessary, true, and kind?
Is there something more authentic I can find to say?
Is it from my heart or from my mind?
Is it necessary, true, and kind?
If I could hit rewind and take it back, I'd do it
Can you kindly put a muzzle on my beak
That old tape I have's an 8-track, I'm so through with it
Will the silence be improved on when I speak?
Is it necessary, true, and kind?
Is there something more authentic I can find to say?
Is it from my heart or from my mind?
Is it necessary, true, and kind?
When my monkey mind has found that open faucet
And the chatter makes a steamy pool of stress
If there's any trace of toxic in my talking
I will grab a mop and clean up all my mess
And I will do my best to button up and hear you
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens
I saw that written on a Jimi Hendrix bumper sticker
He was awfully smart for a musician
Is it necessary, true, and kind?
Is there something more authentic I can find to say?
Is it from my heart or from my mind?
Is it necessary, true, and kind?