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When The Generals Talk Lyrics
[Verse 1: Rob Hirst]
Up there, up there, up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a - cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken in his stride
[Chorus]
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
[Verse 2: Rob Hirst and Peter Garrett]
There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone's talking insurrection
General has a purge
He wants to win election
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The General's very pleased
[Chorus]
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
[Verse 3: Rob Hirst]
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
[Verse 4: Peter Garrett]
Introducing the new general, introducing the new general
Introducing the new general
Introducing the new general school of political diplomacy
If you disagree you get annihilated
Only trouble is we haven't got many generals in Australia
Well, General Motors (haha)
General Credit Corporation (haha)
General Insurance (hahaha)
They're the worst generals of all you know!
[Chorus]
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
[Outro]
When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
Up there, up there, up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a - cheering
But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken in his stride
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone's talking insurrection
General has a purge
He wants to win election
With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The General's very pleased
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Introducing the new general, introducing the new general
Introducing the new general
Introducing the new general school of political diplomacy
If you disagree you get annihilated
Only trouble is we haven't got many generals in Australia
Well, General Motors (haha)
General Credit Corporation (haha)
General Insurance (hahaha)
They're the worst generals of all you know!
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say
When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Exposes how manipulative the government/army is in selling war
Oils on the Water performance of this song - unbeatable. Wish I'd seen it live but I was only 8 at the time! ha ha.
General Electric, General Insurance, etc. Also about the soveriegnty of corporations apart from government. Oppressive capitalism.
one of midnight oil's best. awesome live.
fat cats pushing thin cats around? is it saying that big corporations are driving the small firms out of business? coz that kinda is a problem of capitalism.
hmm also mentions appeasement of the people, gathering support etc.
anyway its a great song. im suprised more people haven't commented on the midnight oil songs.
Military industrial complex
This doesn't look like a complete set of lyrics, as the spoken part is missing. (This is where they say "We have General Motors... General Foods corporation... General Insurance... they're the worst generals of all you know!") I have to wonder if that part exists.
@quamp lyrics dont usually come with spoken parts, also there was another bit to the spoken part only found in the original studio version
@quamp lyrics dont usually come with spoken parts, also there was another bit to the spoken part only found in the original studio version
It starts with the more obvious generals around. The military dictatorships which will do anything to stay in power. Purging is a nice way of saying killing.
Further on in the song the more hidden "generals" of modern society are reveiled, the big business cooperations which will do exactly the same. And if you think they will stop short of killing, you're wrong. As said: they are the worst kind of generals.