We saw your toys and your pencils looking bright
So bright and yet they come from oh so far away
We heard your flags and your banners flapping
We felt the air from from your hands all clapping time
In time, I'm sure your time is not so far away
Millions, all babbling crossword
Millions, all flow at water
Millions, all bright with laughter
He make you glowing
He bake you golden like the yangtse mud
Your stamps showed bridges and temples standing still
So still, and yet they're standing oh so far away
I saw you asking for western thinking
I say it's poison that you'll be drinking
Stay as East, as far away as dreams will let you be
Song about the Chinese. I love the lyrics -
'I saw you asking for western thinking I say it's poison that you'll be drinking Stay as East, as far away as dreams will let you be'
what a prophetic message. especially about the toys, forgot to mention lead, lol then we have poison also, but it's western poison, alas, he was always ahead of its time about political stuff
This song is a great example of how more musically advanced XTC had quickly become (especially compared to their punk/new wave contemporaries) since their debut album. The bass line in "Millions" is so different and unusual but oh so incredibly effective. And the frenetic rhythm guitar - who else would even begin to think about playing it in that style. These guys were a genius group.
I’ve always thought these guys were way ahead of the rest of their peers musically and lyrically, and this is one of my all-time favourite songs. Insightful, scathing, even a little cynical...but awesome all the same. 10/10.