You've Been Bought


So the suburbs were a jungle...
Did your mama make you eat it?
You were barely out of high school
When your daddy told you, 'beat it'
And repression was the buzzword
So you called yourself a victim
A victim of repression?
The court is now in session
With a growl and a guitar, you made yourself a name.
But the fire left the grooves when the first check came

You've been bought
Interests are conflicting
You've been bought
That chemical's addicting
You've been bought
What goes around comes around
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot
'Cause you know you've been bought

Sold your bad reputation
For a deal in Tinseltown
Then the video rolls
then the whip comes down
Did you slap around the ladies for the camera?
Do you slap 'em when the camera isn't there?
Those lawyers telling you to look rebellious
Pulling strings when your fist goes in the air
This year's rock and roll messiah came to settle some old score
You can save the bad-boy posturing, I've seen that sneer before

You've been bought
A real heavy sweater?
You've been bought
Elvis did it better
You've been bought
What goes around comes around
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot
'Cause you know you've been bought

South African promoters call
And you wonder if you should
But ideals fall like dominoes
When the money looks good
We don't need another manufactured rebel
We don't want your twisted doctrines of despair
If your music's saying nothing, save it for the dentist chair

Written by Steve Taylor © 1985 Birdwing Music/C.A. Music (ASCAP)

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