Call it Democracy - Bruce Cockburn

[meat robot]

Call it Democracy
by Bruce Cockburn, written Nov. 1985

Padded with power here they come
international loan sharks backed by the guns
of market hungry military profiteers
whose word is a swamp and whose brow is smeared
with the blood of the poor

Who rob life of its quality
who render rage a necessity
by turning countries into labour camps
modern slavers in drag as champions of freedom

Sinister cynical instrument
who makes the gun into a sacrament --
the only response to the deification
of tyranny by so-called "developed" nations'
idolatry of ideology

North south east west
kill the best and buy the rest
it's just spend a buck to make a buck
you don't really give a flying f*ck
about the people in misery

IMF dirty MF
takes away everything it can get
always making certain that there's one thing left
keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

See the paid-off local bottom feeders
passing themselves off as leaders
kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows
open for business like a cheap bordello

And they call it democracy
and they call it democracy
and they call it democracy
and they call it democracy

See the loaded eyes of the children too
trying to make the best of it the way kids do
one day you're going to rise from your habitual feast
to find yourself staring down the throat of the beast
they call the revolution

IMF dirty MF
takes away everything it can get
always making certain that there's one thing left
keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

 

[Voyageur]

Call it Democracy
by Bruce Cockburn, written Nov. 1985

This was posted in 2008 without a reference to the audible/visual piece, so thought to include two different versions with the lyrics from the original poster underneath:

Bruce Cockburn "Call it democracy" 2 versions 1 w subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfcfdt0jcWs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fr6khzOskI&feature=related

Padded with power here they come
international loan sharks backed by the guns
of market hungry military profiteers
whose word is a swamp and whose brow is smeared
with the blood of the poor

Who rob life of its quality
who render rage a necessity
by turning countries into labour camps
modern slavers in drag as champions of freedom

Sinister cynical instrument
who makes the gun into a sacrament --
the only response to the deification
of tyranny by so-called "developed" nations'
idolatry of ideology

North south east west
kill the best and buy the rest
it's just spend a buck to make a buck
you don't really give a flying f*ck
about the people in misery

IMF dirty MF
takes away everything it can get
always making certain that there's one thing left
keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

See the paid-off local bottom feeders
passing themselves off as leaders
kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows
open for business like a cheap bordello

And they call it democracy
and they call it democracy
and they call it democracy
and they call it democracy

See the loaded eyes of the children too
trying to make the best of it the way kids do
one day you're going to rise from your habitual feast
to find yourself staring down the throat of the beast
they call the revolution

IMF dirty MF
takes away everything it can get
always making certain that there's one thing left
keep them on the hook with insupportable debt

Bruce has performed since the 70's and may not be known all that well outside Canada, although there are a few references on the Forum. Have added a couple of more of his pieces; one called Radium Rain that he wrote shortly after Chernobyl, yet is just as prevalent today of course.

Radium Rain by Bruce Cockburn
-- Radium Rain --
8 May 1986. Cologne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE6ZF9-u8vY&feature=artist

Bruce Cockburn - Silver Wheels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-avqJQwOoo

If A Tree Falls - Acoustic Bruce Cockburn with lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13KUZ53NWq0&feature=related