This Is the Modern World lyrics

Oh we make the standards and we make the rules
And if you don't abide by them you must be a fool
We have the power to control the whole land
You never must question our motives or plans -
'Cause we'll outlaw your voices, do anything we want
We've nothing to fear from the nation
We'll throw you out of your houses if you get too much
If we have to we'll destroy your generation

If we tell you that you've got two days to live
Then don't complain, 'cos that's one more than you'd get in Zaire -
So don't hang around and be foolish
Do something constructive with your weekend -
From Monday morning I work for Friday nights
Collect my wages, then try to paint on the smell of soap -
'Cause tonight I get ready early
Score what I need and go pick a girl up

I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumbling down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when there's no one else around
I'm gonna take you, gonna hold you
Do all the things I told ya
Midnight hour, oh baby
I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
And see the sweet look in your eyes
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love begins to shine

Tonight at noon, tonight at noon
When we meet in the midnight hour,
I will bring you night flowers (coloured)
Like your eyes
Tonight at noon, I'll touch your hand
Held for a moment amongst strangers
Amongst the dripping trees
Country girl
Walking in city squares in winter rain -
Walking down muddy lanes or empty streets -
Arranging a time and place to meet -

I need you to keep me straight,
When the world don't seem so great,
And it's hard enough you know
I need you to be around
When my conscience brings me down
And the world feels so obscure
I want you to be the one
Who tells me off when I do wrong,
And you know I can be bad
I need you, I need you
Say you'll stay, make my day
Now what have I done,
Was it something I said - oh dear

Do you know what you're looking for?
Streets of gold, fame and fortune?
You didn't fancy working in a factory
But your mum and dad didn't agree
You slept on Waterloo station at first
But now you've moved to a posher squat
You wonder where your next meal will come from
Still it's better than living at home
You're looking tired 'cause it's been three weeks

In the street today
Murder on the terraces
And fools in high places
It's all so sickening
And we're so satisfied -
In the street tonight
Hate on every pavement
Paranoia on shop doorways
The kids want some action
And who can fucking blame them now
It's all so sickening, and we're so satisfied

A boy I know is sick in his head -
At least that's what the doctors say he is
Shut in his room for hours on end
Looks like he's forgotten, but is he
His mind it ticks, more than you know
One day something in his head will click
Warders fill him full of lies, he fights he knows
They'll never convince him that he's mad!
At breakfast he is strapped in a chair (won't go far)

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 wanna breakaway, but the ties are too strong
Wanna 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

Looking from a hilltop, watching from a lighthouse, just dreaming
Up here I can see the world
Ooh, sometimes it don't look nice - That's OK
Life from a window, I'm just taking in the view
Life from a window, observing everything around you
Staring at a grey sky, try to paint it blue -
Teenage blue
Some people that you see around you
Tell you how devoted they are

London traffic (state of confusion)
London traffic (blocking the streets)
London traffic (going nowhere)
London traffic (polluting the air)
Drive round London in a car
Don't really want to go far
So many cars fill the streets
Wonder why we bother at all
London traffic is a problem
London traffic too many cars
One way systems look very neat
Coloured signs direct the streets

This is a modern world - This is the modern world
What kind of a fool do you think I am?
You think I know nothing of the modern world
All my life has been the same
I've learned to live by hate and pain
It's my inspiration drive -
I've learned more than you'll ever know
Even at school I felt quite sure
That one day I would be on top
And I'd look down upon the map