Give The People What They Want

Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file

Lyrics:

Hey, hey, hey...
Give the people what they want

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.

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

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, it sold out every night

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

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

[Extra verse from early GTPWTW album acetate:]
   The French Revolution was a crazy scene
   All those aristocrats getting guillotined
   The promoters cleaned up, the expenses were low
   An execution costs nothing, it's a wonderful show

   Give the people what they want
   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.

   The world wants a fight, peace is a bore
   Every now and then you gotta give 'em a war
   Give the people what they want
   Give the people what they want

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!"

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

This song can be found on the following releases:

stereo mix, recorded Jun-Aug 1980 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London

live, stereo mix, recorded 1 Jul, 1987 at Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

live, stereo mix, recorded 25 Mar, 1994 at Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

stereo mix, by Patrick Costello (3:52), recorded 2010

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