Ray Davies's
Lyrics
Working Man's Café cover

Give the People What They Want

Ray Davies, released on Give the People What They Want, © Davray Music Ltd. 1981

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Hey, hey, hey...

Give the people what they want

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Well, it's been said before, the world is a stage

A different performance with every age.

Open the history book to any old page

Bring on the lions and open the cage.

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Give the people what they want

You gotta give the people what they want

The more they get, the more they need

And every time they get harder and harder to please

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The Roman promoters really did things right.

They needed a show that would clearly excite.

The attendance was sparse so they put on a fight

Threw the Christians to the lions, sold out every night

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Give the people what they want

You gotta give the people what they want

The more they get, the more they need

And every time they get harder and harder to please

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Give 'em lots of sex, perversion and rape

Give 'em lots of violence, and plenty to hate

Give the people what they want

Give the people what they want

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When Oswald shot Kennedy, he was insane

But still we watch the re-runs again and again

We all sit glued while the killer takes aim

"Hey Mom, there goes a piece of the president's brain!"

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Give the people what they want

You gotta give the people what they want

Blow out your brains, and do it right

Make sure it's prime time and on a Saturday night.

You gotta give the people what they want

You gotta give the people what they want

Give the people what they want

Give the people what they want

Give the people what they want

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