Billy Bragg - Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards

Billy Bragg

Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards

It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment
So he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner.

In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
At the first hurdle.

In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame-filled minutes of the fanzine writer.

Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where the van is waiting
I'm looking for the Great Leap Forwards.

Jumble sales are organised and pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards.

One leap forward, two leaps back
Will politics get me the sack?

Here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it.

It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole.

If no one seems to understand
Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.

In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room.

So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just a T-shirt away.
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Mirror lyrics:

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
The Revolution is just a T-shirt away.
So join the struggle while you may

But this is reality so give me some room.
In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune

Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.
If no one seems to understand

From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole.
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll

If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it.
Here comes the future and you can't run from it

Will politics get me the sack?
One leap forward, two leaps back

While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards.
Or sleep in with the sleepers
You can be active with the activists
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
Jumble sales are organised and pamphlets have been posted

I'm looking for the Great Leap Forwards.
Out to where the van is waiting
While looking down the corridor
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is

Of the fifteen fame-filled minutes of the fanzine writer.
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
And mopping up spilt beer
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear

At the first hurdle.
That Dr Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded

That the Third World is just around the corner.
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
So he walks over and he's trying
Over luxury's disappointment
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline

Relevant Tags:

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