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Present-day hero, |
Sporting a pinstripe and wearing the regiment's tie, |
Blood in his eye - the world on his shoulders. |
Trims his moustache while he's dreaming of destiny's hour, |
Greedy for power - |
Ready to save the nation, and lead us in the fight, |
Never a doubt that everything he does is right. |
National hero, |
Neat little man who's been chosen by Fate to redeem |
The national dream: Imperial Greatness. |
St. George with a briefcase, he's looking for dragons to slay, |
Waits for the day - |
We ask him to save the nation, and lead us in the fight, |
Never a doubt that God is absolutely white. |
Classical hero, |
Standing alone on the bridge, he's defending the race, |
Setting his face against the invader. |
Knowing the worth of a man can be seen by his skin, |
The killing begins - |
Determined to save the nation, and lead us in the fight, |
Never a doubt that virtue is pure unblemished white. |
Yesterday's hero, |
Trapped in a bunker and died like a rat in a hole, |
Ultimate goal of second-hand heroes. |
Another one rises, demanding the right to be heard, |
And gets the bird - |
History shrugs its shoulders. Gives a big horse-laugh, |
And the cut-price hero ends up with the rest of the trash! |
Cut-Price Hero
Written by Ewan MacColl