When we grew up and went to school
There were certain teachers who would
Hurt the children any way they could
By pouring their derision
Upon anything we did
And exposing every weakness
However carefully hidden by the kids
But in the town it was well known
When they got home at night, their fat and
Psycopathic wives would thrash them
Within inches of their lives

Come in here dear boy have a cigar
You're gonna go far, You're gonna fly high
You're never gonna die,
You're gonna make it if you try
They're gonna love you
Well I've always had a deep respect
And I mean that most sincerely
The band is just fantastic
That is really what I think
Oh, by the way which one's pink?
And if we tell you the name of the game, boy
We call it "Riding the gravy train"
We're just knocked out,
We heard about the sell out
You've gotta get an album out
You owe it to the people
We're so happy we can hardly count
Ev'ry body else is just green
Have seen the chart
It's a helluva start
It could be made into a monster
If we all pull together as a team
And if we tell you the name of the game, boy
We call it "Riding the gravy train":

   --- instrumental ---

Jesus, Jesus what's it all about
Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape
When I was their age all the lights went out
There was no time to whine and mope about

And even now part of me flies over
Dresden at angels one five
Though they'll never fathom it behind my
Sarcasm desperate memories lie

Sweetheart, sweetheart are you fast asleep, good
'Cos that's the only time that I can really talk to you
And there is something that I've locked away
A memory that is too painful
To withstand the light of day

When we came back from the war the banners and
Flags hung on every ones door
We danced and we sang in the street and
The church bells rang
But burning in my heart
My memory smolders on
Of the gunner's dying words on the intercom

Hey you !  out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me
Hey you !  Standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me
Hey you !  don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight.
Hey you !  out there on your own
sitting naked by the phone would you touch me
Hey you !  with your ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out would you touch me
Hey you !  would you help me to carry the stone
Open your heart, I'm coming home
But it was only a fantasy
The wall was too high as you can see
No matter how he tried he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain.
Hey you !  out there on the road
Doing what you're told, can you help me
Hey you !  out there beyond the wall
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me
Hey you !  don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall.

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun

Along the long road and on down the causeway
Do they still meet there by the cut

There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a live consumed by slow decay

    The grass was greener
    The light was brighter
    With friends surrounded
    The nights of wonder

Looking beyon the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwaking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide

At a higher altitude with flags unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times

    The grass was greener
    The light was brighter
    The tast was sweeter
    The nights of wonder
    With friends surrounded
    The dawn mist glowing
    The water flowing
    The endless river

For ever and ever

   --- instrumental ---