And it seems my time has passed

Before me until now

In sequences of moments

And now I see this poster

They seem to need me anyway

I'll take the shilling sign

I'll make a positive move

To be an action man

The woman seem to want us to go

And so I can't refuse



So I find myself in a country somewhere

Where mayhem's madman minions

All march around a square

Unquestioning obedience

Is the order of the day

Your friends are coloured khaki

And your enemies are grey



THE SERGEANT-MAJOR'S PEP-TALK



"Alright my likely lads

You've left your mums and dads, now

Our glorious leaders start a war

To protect the 'ole of 'umankind

That's why they always stay be'ind

What d'ya mean

'Isn't it wrong to kill?'

Not if the top men say so!

Where you're going sonny

General's top chap

Next to him you're a small piece of crap

If none of us went out of fight

We'd never prove our side was right

Now would we?

ATTENTION!"



THE COLONEL'S PEP-TALK



"The front line is a pretty bloody place to be

That's why you go instead of me

Now I'd hate to send you all off thinking

That if you get yours you're going to fret

About your families, so don't

They'll get some lovely souvenirs

A nice bronze plaque

On which will be your name

You'll get free crutches if you end up lame

'Though the numbers of dead

Will contain many zeros

The survivors will return

To a land fit for heroes

Now would I lie to you?

PRESENT ARMS!



Put next to a young boy

In a knee-deep trench

Whose hand even trembles

When he keeps it clenched

We attack tomorrow

In dawn's early light

And as this sinks in

I'm so scared

I can't wait for it and tonight

To be over



ALRIGHT MEN: OVER THE TOP WE GO!



I can't make it

I just can't take it

I trip, strumbling

Caught in the barbed wire

Amongst the heat

And smoke of the crossfire

It's madness, madness



On a station platform

Full of stretchered flesh and bone

Legacy of how easy it is

To destroy whatever's grown

Well maybe there's a reason

That is worthy of a name

Just sick illusions

That I suppose will happen again

Well, next time they ask for men

At least I'm beyond recall

I didn't gain my self-respect

I didn't gain anything at all



If hate and war could solve anything

Don't you think they'd have solved it

A long time ago?

There's good and evil in all of us

It's up to you alone

Which you follow

I know which is my cause from now on

The only one worth sacrifice

The only one I would have remain

When I'm gone -



The flags we weave

Only deceive

We must believe

We must believe ... IN LOVE



BASS AND KEYBOARDS : CLIVE MITTEN

DRUMS AND PERCUSSION : BRIAN DEVOIL

GUITAR : ANDY REVELL

KEYBOARDS : RICK BATTERSBY

VOCALS : GEOFF MANN

WRITTEN BY : ANDY, BRIAN, CLIVE, RICK AND GEOFF

ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON : 'LIVE AND LET LIVE' MFN.18 Jan 1984