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The Combine Lyrics
And life is very difficult, when you’re in the crowd
When you’re in the crowd, you see things as they really are
You can smell the fear and hate, generated by all around
I want to breakaway, but the ties are too strong
Want to go on holiday, but the crowd says I can’t
See life is very different, when you’re in the crowd
Oh, sometimes in the night, I wish I was faraway
But then I realize, even escape will be in vain
I want to close my eyes and be like the rest
I mean, nobody wants to die, although the crowd say they do
Look, life is very intricate, when you’re in the crowd
Life becomes the movies
And everyone has a role
It’s easy being the actor
When the combine’s the only star
Sunday papers
And the dailies
Ena sharples
Page 3 girls
News at ten
War in Rhodesia
Far away
In a distant land
But we’re alright
We’re nice and warm here
No one to hurt us
Except ourselves
When you’re in the crowd, you see things as they really are
You can smell the fear and hate, generated by all around
I want to breakaway, but the ties are too strong
Want to go on holiday, but the crowd says I can’t
See life is very different, when you’re in the crowd
Oh, sometimes in the night, I wish I was faraway
But then I realize, even escape will be in vain
I want to close my eyes and be like the rest
I mean, nobody wants to die, although the crowd say they do
Look, life is very intricate, when you’re in the crowd
Life becomes the movies
And everyone has a role
It’s easy being the actor
When the combine’s the only star
Sunday papers
And the dailies
Ena sharples
Page 3 girls
News at ten
War in Rhodesia
Far away
In a distant land
But we’re alright
We’re nice and warm here
No one to hurt us
Except ourselves
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This is the first of two consecutive songs on the Modern World album inspired by the novel/film One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. The combine (as in combine harvester) is a metaphor for the oppressive, identity-crushing power of the conformist conservative majority of the population. The final lines clearly locate the narrative, not in the middle America of Ken Kesey's hospital-based story, but in 1970s Britain. The abrupt end indicates that this song was definitely conceived as part of a suite.