Ah-men Lyrics - Chumbawamba

A visionary pause in the cycle 

When she refused to buy or sell 

When the daughters of perfect wives 

Said there must be more sacrifice 

Needed more than symbolic change 

More than silent wasting away 

In factories and sterile marriages 

He was God, she was powerless 

With a brick for every year of life 

Set out for the house of lies 

The old boys' club under siege 

His lordship cowered under his seat 

Called for brandy and reinforcements 

Blasted away at every movement 

Close to breaking down the door 

Past thick blue line and stupid laws 

Black Friday left her bruised and stubborn 

One brick from winning the struggle 

Rapunzel hacked at the ivory tower 

Asquith quickly rose to the hour 

Appealed to patriotism, oily smiles 

Gave nothing, called it compromise 

Gaging the situation perfectly 

Said ladies, ladies, listen to me 

1914, we're on the brink of war 

Pick up a flag, drop your cause 

Your targets are counter revolutionary 

Take my hand in democracy 

Here's a piece of paper 

You're officially free 

Here's a list of instructions 

For you to obey 

And here's sharp knife 

To cut your own throat 

Small sacrifice in return for a vote 

Whispered word in Pankhurst's ear 

Visions of the first woman peer 

Led women down the garden path 

And into the arms of the enemy 

Jail and force feeding, waster martyrdom 

Sold her songs for the national anthem 

Slotted the smile back neatly into place 

Served refreshments at the end of the race 

All demands reduced to a joke 

X marks the plague, abandon hope 

Butlers still pouring brandy for the rich 

Excuse me pass me the privilege 

A woman's voice, the state's ideas 

Same vested interests, same dirty deals 

Currie and Williams immersed in the times 

Examples to keep the rest in line 

Currie and Williams two of a kind 

Examples to keep the rest in line 

Absolute power 

Absolute power 

Absolute power 

Absolute power 

Absolute power 

Absolute power 

Absolute power