great escape

sharp as a picture, pretty as a knife

plastic-coated towers in the sodium light

the ground was safety rubber, the trees stood in a line

and i believe they’d found a way to grow ‘em easier to climb

plenty people smiling – were they dumb, or maybe stoned?

we were all in this together, each of us alone

decay that i could taste, was that inertion i could feel?

i know i wasn’t dreaming, but how could that be real?

great escape to break away from the place

that would have dragged me down

and it’s a wonder i could even see to dig the tunnel out

and i would not play the jester as the queen had decreed

there was velvet on her throne but i saw concrete underneath

and i dared not kiss the princess, but i had to tell the king

that his diamonds making circuitry would look better as a ring

how long had i been patient, when i knew i never should?

if you’re drinking with the sheriff, how can you ride with robin hood?

well my bow is strung with horsehair, and my reason’s all in rhyme,

and the only arrow that i could see was pointing out the time

great escape to break away from the place

that would have dragged me down

and it’s a wonder... it’s a wonder...

‘cause it was sick as money, it was sick as crime

sick as the dirty river, sick as swine

sick as no child would ever imagine life to be

sick as the devil, sick as me

i was losing my religion, was losing all my friends

had a list of broken promises and a tangle of loose ends

i saw visions of the princess, but i knew she didn’t care

she would never trade her palace for my castles in the air

and now i’m busy burning bridges, ‘cause i won’t be looking back

and i stake a claim to nothing, yeah i’m pulling down the flag

and i may not find nirvana, but i'll seek it if i choose

i ain’t shopping for insurance ‘cause i got nothing left to lose

great escape to break away from the place

that would have dragged me down

and it’s a wonder i could even see to dig the tunnel out

written by tom yates 28 june 2001

tom yates - lead vocal, acoustic guitars, backing vocals, tambourine
steve parker - bass, electric guitar
rob kenny - drums