Lyrics

O sleepwalking nation, arise in your ranks
and drive to your offices, churches, and banks.
Pick up a script, we’ve assigned you a part.
Mumble your lines till you learn them by heart.

O sleepwalking nation, don’t worry your head
with biased accounts you might have once read.
We’ll teach you a truth that’s so simple and clean
you’ll never have questions or doubt what we mean.

O sleepwalking nation, remember your pills
Obedience prospers but negligence kills.
The doctor is waiting, the experts know best.
Go study all night, for tomorrow’s the test.

O sleepwalking nation, the pablum is good
so take a big helping, you know that you should.
Don’t worry if sometimes you spill on the floor.
We’ll package it up as a gift to the poor.

O sleepwalking nation, we value your views.
We’ll mould you a world that’s whatever you choose.
The longing you’re feeling, the flavour you crave
will shape what we feed you from cradle to grave.

O sleepwalking nation, there’s enemies near
but leave it to us and you’ve nothing to fear.
Our spies are among you, they’ll root out the rot
and see that the hidden subversives are caught.

O sleepwalking nation, you’ve earned your gold star.
The teacher is pleased with your progress so far.
Repeat the right answers, make sure that you pass
and one day you’ll sit at the front of the class.

Credits

by Nedjo Rogers and Sasha Mahalia
Recorded and engineered by JA Cockburn.

• music