Lola Vs. The Powerman & The Money-go-round, Part One

I know a man, he's a powerful man
He's got the people in his power
In the palm of his hand.
He started at the bottom and he worked his way up
Now he's never going to stop
Until he reaches the top.
It's the same old story, it's the same old dream,
It's power man, power man, and all that it can bring.
If you want your money, you better stand in the line
'cos you'll only end up picking up nickels and dimes.
You call him names and he sits and grins
'cos everybody else is just a sucker to him.
And he's got my money, but i've got my faith
And powerman, powerman, i'll never be your slave.
It's the same old story, it's the same old game
It's power man, power man, driving me insane
People tried to conquer the world napoleon and genghis khan
Hitler tried and mussolini too
Powerman don't need to fight, powerman don't need no guns
Powerman got money on his side
Well i'm not rich and i'm not free
But i've got my girl and she got me
He's got my money and my publishing rights
But i've got my girl and i'm alright
And she got me going, and she keeps me sane
But powerman, powerman, got money on the brain
It's the same old story it's the same old game
Powerman, powerman driving me insane

I was lost just wandering round downtown
Many people pushing me around
Hate spreads just like infection
Those rats jumping on and off my back
Fat black rats holding me down
I see rats in every direction
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me
Like snakes crawling through the grass
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind

I think i'm sophisticated
'cos i'm living my life like a good homosapien
But all around me everybody's multiplying
Till they're walking round like flies man
So i'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages
In the zoo man
'cos compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees
I am an ape man
I think i'm so educated and i'm so civilized
'cos i'm a strict vegetarian
But with the over-population and inflation and starvation
And the crazy politicians
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore and make like an ape man
I'm an ape man, i'm an ape ape man
I'm an ape man i'm a king kong man i'm ape ape man
I'm an ape man
'cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies
I am an ape man
In man's evolution he has created the cities and
The motor traffic rumble, but give me half a chance
And i'd be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle
'cos the only time that i feel at ease
Is swinging up and down in a coconut tree
Oh what a life of luxury to be like an ape man
I'm an ape, i'm an ape ape man, i'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, i'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
I look out my window, but i can't see the sky
'cos the air pollution is fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an ape man
Come and love me, be my ape man girl
And we will be so happy in my ape man world
I'm an ape man, i'm an ape ape man, i'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, i'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man
I'll be your tarzan, you'll be my jane
I'll keep you warm and you'll keep me sane
And we'll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day
Just like an ape man
I'm an ape man, i'm an ape ape man, i'm an ape man
I'm a king kong man, i'm a voo-doo man
I'm an ape man.
I don't feel safe in this world no more
I don't want to die in a nuclear war
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an ape man.

Down the way from the tottenham court road
Just round the corner from old soho
There's a place where the publishers go
If you don't know which way to go
Just open your ears and follow your nose
'cos the street is shakin' from the tapping of toes
You can hear that music play anytime on any day
Every rhythm, every way
You got to a publisher and play him your song
He says 'i hate your music and you hair is too long
But i'll sign you up because i'd hate to be wrong'
You've got a tune it's in your head you want to get it placed
So you take it up to a music man just to see what he will say
He says 'i hate the tune, i hate the words but i'll tell you what i'll do
I'll sign you up and take it round the street and see if it makes the grade'
And you might even hear it played on the rock 'n' roll hit parade
Daytime, night time, every week you can hear that heavy beat
Now the walls are shaking from the tapping of feet
Daytime, night time, every day you can hear that music play
Every rhythm, every way

This time tomorrow where will we be
On a spaceship somewhere sailing across an empty sea
This time tomorrow what will we know
Well we still be here watching an in-flight movie show
I'll leave the sun behind me and watch the clouds as they sadly pass me by
Seven miles below ma i can see the world and it ain't so big at all
This time tomorrow what will we see
Field full of houses, endless rows of crowded streets
I don't where i'm going, i don't want to see
I feel the world below me looking up at me
Leave the sun behind me, and watch the clouds as they sadly pass me by
And i'm in perpetual motion and the world below doesn't matter much to me
This time tomorrow where will we be
On a spaceship somewhere sailing across any empty sea
This time tomorrow, this time tomorrow

Robert owes half to grenville
Who in turn gave half to larry
Who adored my instrumentals
And so he gave half to a foreign publisher
She took half the money that was earned in some far distant land
Gave back half to larry and i end up with half of goodness knows what
Oh can somebody explain why things go on this way
I thought they were my friends i can't believe it's me, i can't believe that i'm so green
Eyes down round and round let's all sit and watch the moneygoround
Everyone take a little bit here and a little bit there
Do they all deserve money from a song that they've never heard
They don't know the tune and they don't know the words
But they don't give a damn
There's no end to it i'm in a pit and i'm stuck in it
The money goes round and around and around
And it comes out here when they've all taken their share
I went to see a solicitor and my story was heard and the writs were served
On the verge of a nervous breakdown i decided to fight right to the end
But if i ever get my money i'll be too old and grey to spend it
Oh, but life goes on and on and no one ever wins
And time goes quickly by just like the moneygoround
I only hope that i'll survive