Hemlock - Peter Hammill

Here it comes up on the screen

The propaganda of the military-industrial machine

By now we find there’s little choice:

When our masters tell us «smile» we rejoice

With the nuclear shield safely in place

We’re assured of the survival of the human race

The earth is flat and pigs can fly —

Swallow hard and believe the lies

In these alleys all are blind:

Skittles fall for the dreams of humankind

And nuclear power is safe as hell —

Swallow hard, young William Tell

The earth is flat and pigs can fly —

If you swallow hard you believe the lies

In the banks the deals are made —

Of course there’s no profit in lending the Third World aid

If the larder shelves are bare let the people eat cake

And thank the governments for the air

Meanwhile, in the cells, secret police

Champion freedom, offer justice, keep the peace

The Pope talks to God, the Ayatollah too —

Swallow hard and believe it true

The earth is flat and pigs can fly —

If you swallow hard you’ll believe the lies

It’s a hemlock world

It’s a hemlock world that we must drink —

Swallow hard and don’t try to think

It’s a hemlock world that we all face —

Swallow hard on the bitter taste

Swallow hard on the bitter taste

Swallow hard on the aftertaste

It’s a hemlock, it’s a hemlock world