Lights Go Out Lyrics - New Model Army

I went to my mother, said - please make me king 

I went to my mother, said - I've got to be king 

She said son - well you've got to wait your turn 

Patience is a virtue that you never seemed to learn 

You were born with nothing, to nothing you'll return 

Ch: Now, now the lights go out - there's no warning 

Now, now the lights go out - there's no reason 

Now, now the voices cry - we don't need you now 

I went to my father, said - please make me king 

Went to my father, said - I've got to be king 

He said son - you've got to do your time 

I've done fifty-three years and I haven't yet done mine 

You're just one of the millions waiting in line 

Ch: Now, now the lights go out - there's no warning 

Now, now the lights go out - there's no reason 

Now, now the voices cry - we don't need you now 

History gave us meaning, gave us a place 

Gave my father reasons for the lines on his face 

But we asked for the money and money they gave 

And God, how that made us easy to enslave 

So today at the office, we picked up the cheque 

The handshake of gold, the stab in the back 

The old men went home silent and bowed 

The young men went drinking, drowning it out 

So in every street, in every town, comes some young pretender 

Just gunning for a crown - take it- take it all 

Ch: But now, now the lights go out . . .