
Date of issue: 31.12.1981
Record label: Mercury
Song language: English
Industrial Disease |
Warning lights are flashing down at Quality Control |
Somebody threw a spanner and they threw him in the hole |
There’s rumours in the loading bay and anger in the town |
Somebody blew the whistle and the walls came down |
There’s a meeting in the boardroom they’re trying to trace the smell |
There’s leaking in the washroom there’s a sneak in personnel |
Somewhere in the corridors someone was heard to sneeze |
'Goodness me could it be Industrial Disease?' |
The caretaker was crucified for sleeping at his post |
They’re refusing to be pacified it’s him they blame the most |
The watchdog’s got rabies the foreman’s got the fleas |
And everyone’s concerned about Industrial Disease |
There’s panic on the switchboard tongues are ties in knots |
Some come out in sympathy some come out in spots |
Some blame the management some the employees |
And everybody knows it’s the Industrial Disease |
The work force is disgusted downs tools and walks |
Innocence is injured experience just talks |
Everyone seeks damages and everyone agrees |
That these are 'classic symptoms of a monetary squeeze' |
On ITV and BBC they talk about the curse |
Philosophy is useless theology is worse |
History boils over there’s an economics freeze |
Sociologists invent words that mean 'Industrial Disease' |
Doctor Parkinson declared 'I'm not surprised to see you here |
You’ve got smokers cough from smoking brewer’s droop from drinking beer |
I don’t know how you came to get the Bette Davis knees |
But worst of all young man you’ve got Industrial Disease' |
He wrote me a prescription he said 'you are depressed |
But I’m glad you came to see me to get this off your chest |
Come back and see me later — next patient please |
Send in another victim of Industrial Disease' |
I go down to Speaker’s Corner I’m thunderstruck |
They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks |
Two men say they’re Jesus one of them must be wrong |
There’s a protest singer singing a protest song — he says |
'they wanna have a war so they can keep us on our knees |
They wanna have a war so they can keep their factories |
They wanna have a war to stop us buying Japanese |
They wanna have a war to stop Industrial Disease |
They’re pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind |
They wanna sap you energy incarcerate your mind |
They give you Rule Brittania, gassy beer, page three |
Two weeks in Espana and Sunday striptease' |
Meanwhile the first Jesus says 'I'd cure it soon |
Abolish Monday mornings and Friday afternoons' |
The other one’s out on hunger strike he’s dying by degrees |
How come Jesus gets Industrial Disease |
Name | Year |
---|---|
Sultans Of Swing | 2004 |
Money For Nothing | 2004 |
You And Your Friend | 1990 |
Brothers In Arms | 2004 |
Your Latest Trick | 2004 |
Six Blade Knife | 1977 |
When It Comes To You | 1990 |
The Bug | 1990 |
Where Do You Think You're Going? | 1978 |
Walk Of Life | 2004 |
Once Upon A Time In The West | 1978 |
Iron Hand | 1990 |
Ticket To Heaven | 1990 |
Heavy Fuel | 1997 |
Lady Writer | 1997 |
News | 1978 |
Southbound Again | 1977 |
Fade To Black | 1990 |
Calling Elvis | 1997 |
Private Investigations | 1981 |