Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards Lyrics

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
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Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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!"

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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'

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

love it!

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

This song is so good!

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

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

Cover art for Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards lyrics by Billy Bragg

anyone got the updated lyrics?