Dead Empire

People, places, poisons, profits We're running out of time You tick, I'll tock, I'll shock, you shop We must be out of our minds Deny, distract, defend, deflect Another sign of the times Dead end, it's the beginning of our demise Don't act as if it's coming as a surprise Dirty laundry's been molding on the line Dirty lies we've been propagating too long Propagating too long Bread and circus, lost cause, hubris Another sign of the times Ocean rising, market diving Brother can you spare a dime? Homeless, copeless, corporate, largesse Brother can you spare a dime? Torch light, choke hold, virus, drone strike Another sign of the times Dead empire withering on the vine Wide eyed as if it's coming as a surprise Oh glory's flapping at the scene of the crime First comes the murder, then comes the suicide Comes the suicide Comes the suicide This city shining hill is made of sin and silt It's sliding back into the sea It's amber waves of grain, purple mountains majesty You're swallowed by the rising sea And there's a fat man fiddling While the whole thing burns around him Spewing out gasoline Spewing out gasoline Spewing out his gasoline Dead empire withering on the vine