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Return of the Roughnecks Lyrics
Up and down
These days are up and down
They call it elevated living
A faster future for a faster breed
Unforgiving, unfulfilling
The spirit's willing
But the mind is weak
I had an empty education
I want to speak
But when I try to speak
It doesn't help the situation
And some they fly while others fall
And some they walk while others crawl
It stops them feeling small
That's all
Shake your hand
They'll always shake your hand
Without a moment's hesitation
Burning bridges
And snapping strands
That support a generation
You want to climb
But when you try to climb
You see the ladder getting shorter
You want to drink
But when you try to drink
There's someone pissing in the water
Your soul is something they can buy
So softly, softly step aside
Says the spider to the fly
Nice try
And for every day you're crucified
If you can't look them in the eye
Smile and wave goodbye
Nice try
Vices embraced in times of crisis
That's all
These days are up and down
They call it elevated living
A faster future for a faster breed
Unforgiving, unfulfilling
But the mind is weak
I had an empty education
I want to speak
But when I try to speak
It doesn't help the situation
And some they walk while others crawl
It stops them feeling small
That's all
They'll always shake your hand
Without a moment's hesitation
Burning bridges
And snapping strands
That support a generation
But when you try to climb
You see the ladder getting shorter
But when you try to drink
There's someone pissing in the water
So softly, softly step aside
Says the spider to the fly
Nice try
If you can't look them in the eye
Smile and wave goodbye
Nice try
That's all
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According to Mark:
"The title came from the notebook I had with me the evening of the acid trip at Tandle Hill. I'd written down all these weird phrases like 'Script of the bridge,' and 'What does anything mean? And 'the return of the roughnecks.' The lyric is pretty self-explanatory. The politics of the day constantly went on about a glowing material future. A sort of anti-yuppie anthem. The end is a snippet from a very early song called 'Turn To The Vices' which never got recorded in itself."
What a COOL song!