It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment
So he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner

In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr. Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
At the first hurdle

In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame filled minutes of the fanzine writer

Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where the van is waiting
I'm looking for the great leap forwards

Jumble sales are organised
And pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you're waiting for the great leap forwards

One leap forward, two leaps back
Will politics get me the sack?

Here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it

It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole

If no one seems to understand
Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman

In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room

So join the struggle while you may
The revolution is just a tee shirt away
Waiting for the great leap forwards


Lyrics submitted by Madame Me

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    A great call to arms to lefties, don't just get angry at home, voice your opinions and do something to change things. This is a song of great frustration of current polical system and optimism of a better world and political structure. The masses have the fascists outnumbered and we can do things to improve the world "You can be active with the activists or sleep in with the sleepers!"

    bradleyoon October 26, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I saw him play it on the Henry Rollins show, and these were the updated lyrics he was using. There are a few parts that I can't tell what he's saying:

    It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jaqueline But on the Hugo Chavez highway filling up with gasoline Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying Over luxury's disappointment So he walks over and he's trying To sympathize with her But he thinks that he should warn her To prepare to be bombed back into the Stone Age

    In the former Soviet Union the citizens' demand To know why they're still the target Of Strategic Air Command And they shake their fists in anger And respectfully suggest That we take the money from our missiles and Spend it on our hospitals instead

    The Cold War now is over But the stakes are getting higher I'm frightened of collateral damage and of friendly fire And I don't believe we can defeat no Axis of Evil By putting smart bombs in the hands of dumb people

    Mixing pop and politics, they ask me what the use is I offer up my acupuncturist, my masseuses While looking down the corridor Out to where my ego is waiting I'm looking for the New World Order

    Jumble sales are organized All my mates got back Even after all this time you can still send me a fax You can be active with the activists or Sleep in with the (????) I'm waiting for the great leap forwards

    One leap forwards, two leaps back Will YouTube give MTV the sack? Waiting for the great leap forwards

    Well, here comes the future and you can't run from it If you've got a (????) I wanna be on it, mate Waiting for the great leap forwards

    In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune but This is reality, not American Idol Waiting for the great leap forwards

    So join the struggle while you may The revolution is just an ethical haircut away (???) Waiting for the great leap forwards

    Tommy Pakkoon March 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The missing lyrics you couldnt work out are as follows

    It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jaqueline But on the Hugo Chavez highway filling up with gasoline Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying Over luxury's disappointment So he walks over and he's trying To sympathize with her But he thinks that he should warn her To prepare to be bombed back into the Stone Age

    In the former Soviet Union the citizens' demand To know why they're still the target Of Strategic Air Command And they shake their fists in anger And respectfully suggest That we take the money from our missiles and Spend it on our hospitals instead

    The Cold War now is over But the stakes are getting higher I'm frightened of collateral damage and of friendly fire And I don't believe we can defeat no Axis of Evil By putting smart bombs in the hands of dumb people

    Mixing pop and politics, they ask me what the use is I offer up my acupuncturist, my masseuses While looking down the corridor Out to where my ego is waiting I'm looking for the New World Order

    Jumble sales are organized All my mates got back Even after all this time you can still send me a fax You can be active with the activists or Sleep in with the (MEDIA) I'm waiting for the great leap forwards

    One leap forwards, two leaps back Will YouTube give MTV the sack? Waiting for the great leap forwards

    Well, here comes the future and you can't run from it If you've got a (TATTOO HENRY) I wanna be on it, mate Waiting for the great leap forwards

    In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune but This is reality, not American Idol Waiting for the great leap forwards

    So join the struggle while you may The revolution is just an ethical haircut away (WHILE YOUR) Waiting for the great leap forwards

    There is another version somewhere on youtube, cant find it right now which has the line

    'If you got a MySpace I wanna be on it'

    in place of

    'If you've got a (TATTOO HENRY) I wanna be on it, mate'

    fez_1985on May 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    love it!

    mimison June 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Why is there only one comment on this song?!!

    Pigwaldon May 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I know! This is a great song. It's pretty obvious what this song is about, but it's still a great song.

    el_dennoon June 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is so good!

    ArcadeFire101on October 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    either these lyrics are wrong or my veirsion of the song is wrong, which is it?

    Peppermelonon November 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    You are probably listening to the updated version of the song. Billy Bragg just updated it to be more current.

    jdevils3on November 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    anyone got the updated lyrics?

    mechpope13on November 17, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.