Bread & Circuses - Billy Bragg

Crowds gather 'round

Kneeling at the feet of common thieves

Hungry for the word

But God would never speak to such as these

Such as these

Who offer healing hands and balms

And redemption, a few would cross their palms

They’ll tell your troubles to the Lord

For how ever much you can afford

Hands holding hands

In the circle of the sinners and the saints

Memories that linger from the cradle

Placing puzzles in the grave

In the grave

No mortal skin and bone

Can live on bread and circuses alone

The spirit needs must drive

The mystery of why you’re alive

They look in their Book and they read

But their cold hearts say, «Follow me»

Dance in the dust

In the frenzy of the desperately in need

Led by the voices of the men who invoke

Ritual to hide their greed

Hide their greed

Come every tongue, every eye

Across the crumbling earth and cracking skies

The gates of hell stand open wide

But the path of glory, you walk single file

They look in their book and they read

But their cold hearts say, «Follow me»

These men make a cage

For the very souls that came here to be freed

They turn off their lights for their tents

They’re fixing to leave

They look in their Book and they read

But their cold hearts say, «Follow me»

They’ll close all their Books and they’ll leave

Their cold hearts say, «Follow me»

They’ll close their Book and leave

They’ll close up their Books and leave