Waiting For The Great Leap Forward Lyrics - 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 sympathize 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 fifteen 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 

Jumble sales are organized 

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? 

Here comes the future and you can't run from it 

If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it 

It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll 

From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole 

If no one seems to understand 

Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman 

In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune 

But this is reality so give me some room 

So join the struggle while you may 

The revolution is just a tee shirt away 

Waiting for the great leap forwards