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Accident Waiting To Happen Lyrics
I've always been impressed with a girl
Who could sing for her supper and get breakfast as well
That's the way I am, heaven help me
He said, "We don't like peace campaigners round here"
As he nailed another one to the wall
And that's what gets me in trouble, heaven help me
Goodbye and good luck to all the rubbish that you've spoken
Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
Your life has lost its dignity, its beauty and its passion
You're an accident waiting to happen
There you are standing at the bar
And you're giving me grief about the DDR
And that chip on your choulder gets bigger as you get older
One of these night you're gonna get caught
It'll give you a pregnant pause for thought
You're a dedicated swallower of fascism
Time up and time out
For all the liberties you've taken
Time up and time out
For all the friends that you've foresaken
If you choose to waste away like death is back in fashion
You're an accident waiting to happen
And my sins are so unoriginal
I have all the self-loathing of a wolf in sheep's clothing
In this carnival of carnivores
Heaven help me
Who could sing for her supper and get breakfast as well
That's the way I am, heaven help me
He said, "We don't like peace campaigners round here"
As he nailed another one to the wall
And that's what gets me in trouble, heaven help me
Goodbye and good luck to all the promises you've broken
Your life has lost its dignity, its beauty and its passion
You're an accident waiting to happen
And you're giving me grief about the DDR
And that chip on your choulder gets bigger as you get older
One of these night you're gonna get caught
It'll give you a pregnant pause for thought
You're a dedicated swallower of fascism
For all the liberties you've taken
Time up and time out
For all the friends that you've foresaken
If you choose to waste away like death is back in fashion
You're an accident waiting to happen
I have all the self-loathing of a wolf in sheep's clothing
In this carnival of carnivores
Heaven help me
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Seems to be a description of a girlfriends father who is a typical conservative, and at times an attack on the Conservative party (especially the talk on taking liberties). The guy in the song is a left-winger, and finds himself clashing with the father.
The father lectures him on how terrible left-wingers are, yet the father's beliefs are without basis (rubbish), he's basically just spouting the crap printed in the Sun and vocalised by the conservative party. The guy thinks that at one point the father might realise that the conservative party is talking shit (fascism) and he's been buying it all along. The father has never represented his own views, rather he has been wasting away.
The guy also defends himself to an extent, belittling what the father says are his "sins". He's also worried about the "carnival of carnivores", the conservative politicians and pundits who decrie any left-wing activity (which is what the father was doing).
Great song, and very underrated.
It is a great song. It's lyrics remind me of "A New England." I think this song is about Margaret Thatcher; I she was in office till late 1990, which was only a couple of years before this song was released.
Goodjohn I think you nailed it...I've always liked this song, but looking at it on paper (well monitor) and hearing your take I see it in a new light.
Also listen to the Discount (band) EP (entitled 'Love, Billy') for cover versions of some classic Bragg songs as interpreted by amazing punk vocalist Alison Mosshart. Just sayin' :D