Lyrics Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards - Billy Bragg

It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment so he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her, but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner

In the Soviet Union, a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
At the first hurdle

In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs and mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the 15 fame-filled minutes of the fanzine writer

Mixing pop and politics, he asks me, what the use is?
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor out to where the van is waiting
I'm looking for the Great Leap Forwards

Jumbo sales are organised and pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists or sleep in with the sleepers
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

One leap forward, two leaps back
Will politics get me the sack?
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Well, here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

If no one seems to understand
You, start your own revolution and cut out the middleman
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just a T-shirt away
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards