The Greatest Working-Class Rip-Off (Rehearsal Version)

chorus: ain't it just a rip off, oi, oi, oi

ain't it just a rip off, oi, oi, oi

ain't it just a rip off, oi, oi, oi

what a fucking rip off, oi, oi, oi.

another threatening glance, another macho stance

another aggressive fist, another arsehole pissed

another vicious threat, a stream of blood stained sweat

another bottle waved in the air, another battle with tension and fear

chorus

tell me, why do you glorify violence? ain't there nothing better to give?

why fuck up the only chance to be yourself and really live?

you tell me you're a working class loser, well what the fuck does that mean?

is the weekly fight at the boozer gonna be the only action you've seen?

are you gonna be one of the big boys, well, we've all seen it before

muscles all akimbo as they boot down another door

will you see yourself as the hero as you boot in another head

when you're just a pathetic victim of the media you've been fed

you're lost in your own self pity, you've bought the system's lie

they box us up and sit pretty as we struggle with the knots they tie

okay, so you're right about one thing no-one's got the right to shit on you

but what's the point of shitting on yourself, what's that gonna do?

working class hero beats up middle class twit

media labels, system's shit

when it looks like the people could score a win

the system makes sure that the boot goes in.

yeah it's the greatest working class rip off, oi, oi, oi

just another fucking rip off, a fucking media ploy

it's the greatest working class rip off, oi, oi, oi

ain't it just a rip off, ain't it just a rip off, ain't it just a rip off, oi

Punk attacked the barriers of colour, class, and creed

but look at how it is right now, do you really think you're freed?

Punk once stood for freedom, not violence, greed, and hate

Punk's got nothing to do with what you're trying to create

anarchy, violence, chaos? you mindless fucking jerks

can't you see you're talking about the way the system works?

throughout our bloody history force has been the game

the message that you offer is just the fucking same

you're puppets to the system with your mindless violent stance

that's right you fuckers, sneer at us cos we say, give peace a chance?

Punk is dead you wankers cos you killed it through and through

in your violent world of chaos, what you gonna do?

is top the pops the way in which you show how much you care?

will you take off to the usa to spread your message there?

well mouth and trousers, sonny boy, never changed a thing

the only thing that'll ever change will be the song you sing

cos when you've bought your Rolls Royce car and luxury penthouse flat

you'll be looking down your nose and saying, Punk, dear chap, what's that??

you'll be the working class hero with your middle class dream

and the world will be the same as the world has always been

Punk's the people's music so you can stuff your ideas of class

that's just the way the system keeps you sitting on your arse

class, class, class, that's all you fucking hear

middle class, working class, I don't fucking care.

It's the greatest working class rip off, oi, oi, oi

what a fucking rip off, oi, oi, oi

it's the greatest human sell off, oi, oi, oi

ain't it just a rip off, oi, oi, oi.

Punk's the people's music and I don't care where they're from

black or white, punk or skin, there ain't no right or wrong

we're all just human beings, some of us rotten, some of us good

you can stuff your false divisions cos together I know we could

beat the system, beat it's rule

ain't got no class, I ain't a fool

beat the system, beat it's law

ain't got religion cos I know there's more

beat the system, beat its game

ain't got no colour we're all the same

people, people, not colour, class, or creed

don't destroy the people, destroy their power and their greed.