Citizen Fish - City On A River lyrics

I see the rubble alongside the river and shout "It's time we started looking again!" We seen it before, except then it was standing Seen the demolition, hand in hand We watch the cars zoom past Seems like nothing's ever gonna last Is this change? Or merely destruction? Wait a few months and here's the construction Of another supermarket, as shops close down Redundancy money like a dressing gown - like a dressing gown Barely hiding the naked fear Of being recognised - "I used to work here" Staring at the rubble was bad enough So we look to the river instead Comparison, no! It couldn't be so! This one flows and the other is dead Comparison, no! It couldn't be so! Comparison, no! It wouldn't be so! But the swans have gone with the current - moved on And the trees have rotted away The bridge that joined workers and nature Now a viewpoint to view the decay We walk round the city a few times more And the repetition makes us numb Built on a river that keeps the score Of replaceable scenery - What was won Is lost - And the cost is rising Pride in the city and its horizons k**ed by the slow destruction Of places to live - Now the only function That reaps rewards is profit And the making of it Can't afford to look after the poor If they really want more - we've got it The price is lifelong dedication To the status quo of this consumer nation Offer no alternative, don't talk back Work for twenty years then get the sack Or not! How much have you got? What kind of strength can take you The length of the ladder? Can you reach the top? Is it madder Or saner to stay off the rungs And start complaining? About the endless waste, the draining Off of human inspiration Where people and labour And buildings and nature are wasted Got a taste of it Stood by the rubble, by the river, on a bridge