When the Generals Talk Songtext
von Midnight Oil

Aaargh...

Up there, up there, up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a cheering

But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They′re taken for a ride
Taken in his stride

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say


There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone talking insurrection
So the general has a purge
He wants to win elections

With a certain satisfaction
The people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The general′s very pleased

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around


Introducing the new general, introducing the new general, introducing the new general, Introducing the new general school of political diplomacy...
If you disagree, you get annihilated

Only trouble is, we haven't got many generals in Australia
Well, General Motors
General Credit Corporation
General Insurance
They're the worst generals of all you know!

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

When the generals talk
You better listen to him
When the generals talk
You better do what he say

When the generals talk
When the generals talk
When the generals talk
You better listen to him