Lyrics Forty Years - Joe Jackson

Forty Years

Here in Berlin — people line up to get in
To wait for the end — living in glorious sin
They’ve looked around — and now there is no looking back
To when rivers ran red — now it’s the sky that grows black
Shadows are cast as two giants roam over the earth
We light a match — but what is that little flame worth
Once allies danced and sang
But it was forty years ago
Here in D.C. — they talk about 'Euro-disease'
And how the French are always so damn hard to please
Otions are passed in Brussels but no one agrees
And no one walks tall — but no-one gets down on their knees
Once allies laughed and drank
But it was forty years ago
Where I come from
They don’t like Americans much
They think they’re so loud, so tasteless, and so out of touch
Stiff upper lips are curled into permanent sneers
Self-satisfied
Awaiting the next forty years
Once allies cried and cheered
But it was forty years ago