Lyrics Chumbawamba

Chumbawamba

Ah-Men

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

She 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

Gauging the situation perfectly

Said ladies, ladies, listen to me

Nineteen fourteen, 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 idea

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

Ladies, ladies, listen to me