It's the longest running joke
In history
To kill the working classes
In the name of liberty

The lies of Hillsborough
The blood of Orgreave
All the evasion at the BBC

And 30 years of war
To darken all our class
Black propaganda, lies and mistrust
See it in our eyes, the fire dimming away
The old-boy network won the war again

The old-boy network won the war again
The old-boy network won the war again

So you hide all Lowry's paintings
For 30 years or more
'Cos he turned down a knighthood
And you must now settle the score

And the endless parade of old Etonian scum
Line the front benches so what is to be done?
All part of the same establishment
I ask you again what is to be done?

I ask you again what is to be done?
I ask you again what is to be done?

These verses at attention stand
Ready for the immortal command
The armies of my pages may never fight again
Happy for the order to meet eternal flame

Blame the poor
Praise the rich
Make the connections
Put them in print
Keep 'em boxed in
Keep 'em kettled in

Create a mistruth
So bewildering

Create a mistruth
So bewildering
Create a mistruth
So bewildering

So you hide all Lowry's paintings
For 30 years or more
'Cos he turned down a knighthood
And you must now settle the score
And the endless parade of old Etonian scum
Line the front benches so what is to be done?
All part of the same establishment
I ask you again what is to be done?

I ask you again what is to be done?
I ask you again what is to be done?

So you hide all Lowry's paintings
For 30 years or more
'Cos he turned down a knighthood
And you must now settle the score
And the endless parade of old Etonian scum
Line the front benches so what is to be done?
All part of the same establishment
I ask you again what is to be done?

I ask you again what is to be done?
I ask you again what is to be done?



Lyrics submitted by niteflite01

30 Year War song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    "It’s not about Thatcher, it’s definitely about Thatcherism, about the establishment across the last 30 years, and it doesn’t matter what government is around, we always love to portray ourselves as this holier than thou country, and yet we have scandal after scandal uncovered, right to the root of power, government, Murdoch, the police, Hillsborough, this stupification of the class I grew up in, which I think all stems from Thatcherism really. The idea that if you break down any power that we had we’re going to be fucked forever. That ominous [line]: 'I ask you again what is to be done?' which is obviously Lenin. Simon Price said we must be the first band to quote Lennon and Lenin on one album. I didn’t want to give the lyric to James, because I felt the album is so intimate and internal, do they really want me ranting on about class war? But he was genuinely excited, it gave him an energy, and it’s certainly a musical bridge to the next album. It’s slightly more odd sounds, a bit Blade Runner with the keyboards. I listen to it and I think, 'Fuck me', maybe 20 years ago we could have released this as a single because it sounds different for us, it’s spiky but quite considering. It’s not splenetic raging, which I can be prone to. It’s got something weirdly in common with ‘Tolerate...’ with that kind of retro-futurism. There’s that line about 'hiding Lowry’s paintings' as well, the idea of connoisseurs of taste is such a London-centric thing: 'We’ll keep these in storage because he’s a Sunday painter.' He’s not, he’s a true genius - it’s not just matchstick men, there’s true depth to his painting. I find that elitist, 'We know what’s better' is so all pervading, from the monarchy to fucking Cameron to Mumford and Sons. We’re just told… what did one of Mumford and Sons say the other day? 'Either ignore it or celebrate it.' What a fucking futile attitude. Don’t say anything bad, just ignore it or celebrate it. So what about fascism then? We don’t like it, we’ll just ignore it. It does feel like the last five years has been such a redress of monarchy and establishment and public school through all points of our culture. I feel a bit helpless about it."

    -Nicky Wire

    manic4manicson October 13, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant song. Nicky Wire at his PEAK!!

    manic4manicson December 15, 2014   Link

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