​

 

Well, the economy’s in ribbons

And the worlds all gone to pot.

They gave the bankers ammunition-

Then they heard that grenade shot.

And it resounded round the countries

And splashed across the world,

The rich men did the cha cha

And the politicians twirled.

 

Now the children squeeze together

In classes 30 plus,

The walls are stretched and pulsing

Like there all about to burst.

And the teachers they are crying

Into their coffee mugs,

“They should be scoring better!”

Say the bureaucratic thugs.

 

The old folk lie in piss-stained beds

With broken hips and knees,

There was no morning snow plough

So the pavements filled with grease.

Their nurse is ragged running,

Sweating overtime,

Out the window there’s the doctor

Standing in the picket line.

 

Well, the economy’s in ribbons

And the worlds all gone to pot,

They gave the bankers ammunition-

Then they heard that grenade shot.

And it resounded round the countries

And splashed across the world,

The rich men did the cha cha

And the politicians twirled.

 

In a Glasgow housing scheme

Davey used to work

But he’s trudging to the corner

Where Uncle Ronny lurks.

And passing the fifteenth betting shop

who else does he meet-

But little Adam Rooney,  

“I’ve lost it all!” He greets.

 

And over at the park

Beyoncé’s pram is pushed along,

Through scratchcard and needle litter

Of other lives gone wrong.

And right across the street

Behind the windows boarded planks-

Janie blows her brains out

Near the spot she used to dance.

 

Well the economy’s in ribbons

And the worlds all gone to pot,

They gave the bankers ammunition-

Then they heard that grenade shot.

And it resounded round the countries

And splashed across the world

The rich men did the cha cha

And the politicians twirled.

 

In a desert sandstorm,

Ahmed bows his head,

“The west dropped us like their used condoms!”

His dying father said.

“The rich deposed our leaders.”

A vacuum took their place.

He’s gone to join the ji-had-ists

to “Fight for Allah’s grace.”

 

Well, the economy’s in ribbons

And the worlds all gone to pot,

They gave the bankers ammunition

Then they heard that grenade shot.

And it resounded round the countries

And splashed across the world

The rich men did the cha cha cha

And the politicians twirled.

 

In their domino African village,

Their life was even worse,

The kids sit at their father’s side,

On the floating hearse.

It was a chance he had to take,

Something that he just had to do.

Their mothers, sisters, grandfathers raped,

They just took what they wanted to.

 

And they flee from south to west,

And they seek from east to west.

Resources, stability, freedom taken,

And left to what was left.

 

Well the economy’s in ribbons

And the worlds all gone to pot,

They gave the bankers ammunition-

Then they heard that grenade shot.

And it resounded round the countries

And splashed across the world

The rich men did the cha cha

And the politicians twirled.

 

“BUT THAT IS NOT THE REASON!

THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE!

THE CONSPIRACY OF FACELESS MEN,

AND WHERE THEY DIG THEIR CLAWS!

THE ECONOMIES NOT IN RIBBONS!

THE WORLDS NOT GONE TO POT!

WE DIDN’T GIVE NO AMMUNITION-

AND THERE WAS NO GRENADE SHOT!

LET IT RESOUND ACROSS THE COUNTRIES,

AND SPREAD ACROSS OUR LANDS-

WE KNOW WHAT IT BEST FOR YOU,

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND!

 

That was not the reason,

That was not the cause!

Just sing the song of the new religion,

The song of Santa Claus-

 

We don’t need

Churches,

But skyscrapers!

Not temples,

But banks!

Not useless forests,

But Ikea stores!

C’mon and join the ranks!

We don’t need

Utopian roars for what could be

But missiles and army tanks!

 

Not dry rivers,

But flumes of black!

Not wasted land,

But dams!

You tell us that your fed up?

Well abide by our new plan!

 

ECONOMY. ECONOMY.

Is what’s best for our society.

And our Economy and the environment

are NOT mortal enemies!

 

We will get it right

You just leave us to it!

Let us be your light,

We will show you how to do it!”

​

(Sing nice and slow)

Let’s sing the song of our new religion!

Let’s sing the song of our new religion!

All sing along to our new religion!

 

(Faster!)

Get down and

DANCE! DANCE! DANCE!

Get down and DANCE!

And BUY! BUY! BUY!

All get down and BUY!

 

(Really slow!)

 Let’s sing the song of the new religion!

Let’s sing the song of the new religion!

ALL SING ALONG TO THE NEW RELIGION!

​

C-A-P-I-T

A-L-I-S-M!

 

C-A-P-I-T

A-L-I-S-M!

 

AND THAT IS OUR NEW FAITHS NAME-O!