Lyrics Hemlock - Peter Hammill

Hemlock

Here it comes up on the screen
The propaganda of the military-industrial machine
By now we find there’s little choice:
When our masters tell us «smile» we rejoice
With the nuclear shield safely in place
We’re assured of the survival of the human race
The earth is flat and pigs can fly —
Swallow hard and believe the lies
In these alleys all are blind:
Skittles fall for the dreams of humankind
And nuclear power is safe as hell —
Swallow hard, young William Tell
The earth is flat and pigs can fly —
If you swallow hard you believe the lies
In the banks the deals are made —
Of course there’s no profit in lending the Third World aid
If the larder shelves are bare let the people eat cake
And thank the governments for the air
Meanwhile, in the cells, secret police
Champion freedom, offer justice, keep the peace
The Pope talks to God, the Ayatollah too —
Swallow hard and believe it true
The earth is flat and pigs can fly —
If you swallow hard you’ll believe the lies
It’s a hemlock world
It’s a hemlock world that we must drink —
Swallow hard and don’t try to think
It’s a hemlock world that we all face —
Swallow hard on the bitter taste
Swallow hard on the bitter taste
Swallow hard on the aftertaste
It’s a hemlock, it’s a hemlock world