Bovine Spungiform Economics
Bovine Spungiform Economics: A Satirical Anthem for Consumerism's Stranglehold
Lyrics
The maternity ward
The place of my birth, the maternity ward.
where I was born
It was demolished during the first Gulf War to make way for an airport.
was knocked down in the first Gulf War to build an airport
The airport construction prioritized housing for Allied steel.
for housing Allied steel,
Emphasizing support for Allied ideals.
for upholding Allied ideals,
These ideals include stable petroleum prices and consumer choice.
like a stable petroleum price and consumer choice
Expressing a sarcastic tone towards these ideals and their impact.
Oh Lord won’t you buy me any kind of car,
A plea to a higher power for a car, highlighting the distance traveled from the starting point.
I’ve walked so very far away from where I began
Reflecting on a significant personal journey.
Our few remaining parks
Mentioning the decline of parks due to the dominance of cinemas and car-parks.
are being smothered by cinemas,
Expressing dissatisfaction with the encroachment of commercial spaces on natural ones.
and the requisite stock of car-parks (it’s not the same)
Noting that the replacement of parks with car-parks is not equivalent.
And our children will rejoice
Expecting future generations to find joy in the freedom to choose from superstores and various cultural decay.
in unbridled freedom of choice
Criticizing the abundance of choices in superstores and the decline of cultural values.
of superstores and different brands of cultural decay
Oh Lord won’t you buy me any kind of car,
A repetition of the plea for a car from a higher power.
I’ve walked so very far away from where I began
A reminder of the extensive personal journey.
You only get out what you put in,
Stating the principle that one receives in proportion to what one contributes.
and all that we pay is credence sincere at the altars of competition and desire
Highlighting the payment of sincere respect at the altars of competition and desire.
All choice and no need makes Jack a dull economist
Warning against a focus on choice without addressing actual needs.
They’re selling ad-space on the subway walls,
Observing the commercialization of public spaces, such as subway walls.
and privatizing the tenement halls,
Mentioning the privatization of tenement halls.
prophet and cause superseded by profit and loss
Highlighting the shift from promoting a cause to prioritizing profit and loss.
They’d have Marshall’s mustachiod face
Referring to Marshall's mustachioed face, possibly representing authority or historical figures.
staring down from every public place
Imagining the widespread presence of Marshall's image if honest history were taught.
if they taught honest history in schools and people knew who he was
Speculating on the lack of recognition due to gaps in historical education.
Oh Lord won’t you buy me any kind of car,
Repeating the plea for a car from a higher power.
I’ve walked so very far away from where I began
A final reminder of the extensive personal journey.
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