[Verse 1 - Neil Tennant]
I can remember when this was the future
Where it was gonna be at back then
Why don't we tear the whole bloody lot down
And make a new start all over again?
[Verse 2 - Chris Lowe]
I can recall utopian thinking
Bold mission statements and tightening of belts
Demolition of familiar landmarks
Promises made and deals that were dealt
[Chorus - Tennant]
This used to be the future
Where it was at back then
Let's tear the whole bloody lot down
And start all over again
[Bridge 1a - Phil Oakey]
But that future was exciting
Science fiction made fact
Now all we have to look forward to
Is a sort of suicide pact
[Bridge 1b - Tennant]
Was it the dear old future
That created the problems we face?
How do we deal with the fallout
Of the age we used to call space?
[Verse 3 - Tennant and Oakey]
I can remember planning for leisure
Living in peace and freedom from fear
Science that promised to make us a new world
Religion and prejudice disappear
[Verse 4 - Tennant and Lowe]
I can remember when this was the future
Where it was gonna be at back then
Now religion and nuclear energy have united
To threaten, oh God! Amen
[Bridge 2a - Oakey]
This used to be the future
Where it was at back then
Now religion and nuclear energy have united
Oh God! Amen
[Bridge 2b - Tennant]
Was it the dear old future
That created the problems we face?
How do we deal with the fallout
Of the age we used to call space?
[Chorus - Tennant]
This used to be the future
Where it was at back then
Let's tear the whole bloody lot down
And start all over again
[Oakey]
Amen