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Poets and Slaves Lyrics

Here comes the mechanical sun
working on the bones in the dry old creek bed
mist on the old river bend yellow box hangs like it's dead
the emerald silo is rusting from the inside

you want to run like the wind you'll never come here again
you want a world you can save so c'mon you poets and slaves

circus olympia pulls into town
the dwarf and the fat man head out for beer
there is no lion that roars to one can stand on the horse
tomorrow is a no show the fortune teller cries

you want to go down in flames you're gonna crash like the waves
you can't remember your name so come on you poets and slaves

we got everything we need sugar and beef
we got some good ideas
we got the steering wheels and rolling stock too
clouds came down low on the corn
meat ants are gathering like storms
somewhere in the quiet wild darkness a crocodile cries

you gotta you gotta you gotta
c'mon you poets and slaves

you got to arrest the decay you're sinking down in the bay
you can't remember your name c'mon on you poets and slaves

you've got to count what you've made
you're gonna pass like the days
stop time and head for the stage

and c'mon on you poets and slaves
c'mon on you poets and slaves
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Cover art for Poets and Slaves lyrics by Midnight Oil

The reason why I submitted these lyrics here is because I wanted to pose a question to the discusion: Is the line "we got everything we need - sugar and beef" a reference to John Steinbecks' "Grapes of wrath?". I always think of an episode from this book (it was in my english textbook at school, that's why it sticks) where the Joads have worked at a peach farm and Ma-Joad goes shopping in the evening and she spends all the earnings from the day to buy coffee, sugar and beef (sugar because Tom likes his coffee with sugar). Now I am wondering whether I am the only one who makes this connection (it would fit wunderful, though) or whether this is clear to everyone?

Cover art for Poets and Slaves lyrics by Midnight Oil

He's wondering where the passion for change in his country has gone. When all your material needs are met, one tends to become apathetic.

 
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