Name: Paper City
Duration: P00H05M25S
Description: 'Paper City'** is a cheerful ditty about the collapse of capitalism. "I wouldn't mind you dying, but you'll take so many with you when you go." One of the few songs of mine to have been done with a full-ish band (the legendary Flying Piglets). And yes, I know that BT doesn't support the telex service any more. This _was_ written in the 80s!

Paper City

from The Game of London by David A. Harley

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about

'Paper City'** is a cheerful ditty about the collapse of capitalism. "I wouldn't mind you dying, but you'll take so many with you when you go." One of the few songs of mine to have been done with a full-ish band (the legendary Flying Piglets). And yes, I know that BT doesn't support the telex service any more. This _was_ written in the 80s!

lyrics

Paper City (words & music by David A. Harley)

I woke up with my mind’s eye facing your direction:
I looked hard and I saw you needed help.
You’re choking on paper and tape and legislation,
But you can’t produce one thing to help yourself.

Paper city at the heart of a paper empire:
You’ve got strings to pull, you’ve got wires all over the earth.
Sky-climbing parasite, concrete and paper jungle,
You’ve got money to burn, but I know you’d rather freeze to death.

You’ve got stacks of stocks and shares and bonds:
You’ve got telephone and telex,databank and dateline too.
But you can’t produce as much as one lead pencil,
Or a bar of soap, or a rubber band to pull you through.

The media twitch at the flash of a freemason’s handshake:
Speeches are made and the punters gather round;
Paper politicians and faceless company men,
Taking the pulse of an ailing paper pound.

I bet you know just what you’re worth on paper:
When the market crumbles, what will that do to you?
A lot of cold people don’t own the earth they lie in:
Will you be all right in your green-lined paper tomb?

Paper city at the heart of a bankrupt empire:
Your towers get higher as your assets hit new lows.
Nose-diving parasite, I wouldn’t mind you dying,
But you’ll take so many with you when you go.

credits

from The Game of London, released April 19, 2021
Vocals, guitars, words & music by David A. Harley
Recorded 1983 at Centre Sound, Camden

license

about

David A. Harley England, UK

David Harley is a former professional musician, administrator, IT security editor, author and researcher, and former much else that is even less impressive. He now lives in Cornwall. More info at whealalice.com