words and music by Joe Jackson)



There was a man in the jungle, trying to make ends meet

Found himself one day with an axe in his hand

When a voice said "Buddy can you spare that tree

We gotta save this world - starting with your land."



It was a rock'n'roll millionaire from the USA

Doing three to the gallon in a big white car

And he sang and sang 'til he polluted the air

And he blew a lot of smoke from a Cuban cigar



And the stars are looking down

Through a hole in the sky

And if they can see, they cry

That's obvious



And the walls are coming down

Between the west and the east

You don't have to be a hippie to believe in peace

That's obvious... it's obvious... obvious



There was a kid in the city selling crack to get by

Got caught one day with a gun in his hand

When a voice said, "OK, get 'em up in the air

You're too young to live like this but you ain't too fast to die."



Just another foot-soldier in a stupid little war

Another sound-bite on the American scene

Caught between the supplier only dreaming of money

And the demand of the man with money who needs a little help to dream



So we starve all the teachers

And recruit more marines

How come we don't even know what that means

It's obvious



And the walls are coming down

Between the eagle and the dove

You don't have to be a hippie to believe in love

That's obvious... it's obvious... obvious



(C) 1991 Pokazuka Ltd. (ASCAP