Lyrics: 1971
Go tell the sergeant-major To get that thing repaired They're losing their pawns in Asia There's slaughter in every square Oh -- It's going down slow It's going down slow Go get the fire department To bring that hose along And them and the schoolboy bandits Can water each other's lawn Oh -- It's going down slow It's going down slow Everybody seems to be leaving Better say your travelling prayers It don't matter how you get it It's where do you go from there Oh -- It's going down slow It's going down slow It's going down slow It's going down slow God, damn the hands of glory That hold the bloody firebrand high Close the book and end the story Of how so many men have died Let the world retain in memory That mighty tongues tell mighty lies And if mankind must have an enemy Let it be his warlike pride Let it be his warlike pride |
Lyrics: 2003
Go tell the sergeant-major To get that thing repaired The lunatics rule in the asylum Chaos is in the air Oh oh oh It's going down slow It's going down slow They're grinding the marrow of history The ground underneath us quakes The board of directors is looting What's left of the ship of state Oh oh oh It's going down slow It's going down slow Everybody seems to be leaving Better say your travelling prayers It don't matter how you get it It's where do you go from there Oh oh oh It's going down slow It's going down slow It's going down slow It's going down slow God, damn the hands of glory That hold the bloody firebrand high Close the book and end the story Of how so many men have died Let the world retain in memory That mighty tongues tell mighty lies And if mankind must have an enemy Let it be his warlike pride Let it be his warlike pride |
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Editor's note: - The 2003 version of this song was re-written and re-recorded for the War Child Peace album, www.warchild.org, which will be available 15 April 2003, and also includes music from Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, and Moby.