Intro: A D C A C A Verse 1: A School bell go "Ding! Dong! Ding!" A The children all line up A They do what they are told A D C A C A Take a little drink from the liar's cup
Verse 2: D C Bb A Mama don't really care Bb If what they learn is true C E7 Or if it's only lies D C Bb A Just get them through the factories Bb Into production C Bb E7 Ah, get them into line Verse 3: A Late in the afternoon A The children all come home A They mind their manners well A D C A C A Their little lives are all laid out Verse 4: D C Bb A Mama don't seem to care Bb If she may break their hearts C E7 She clips their wings off, they never learn to fly D C Bb A Poor Mama needs a source of pride Bb A doctor son she'll have C E7 No matter what the cost to manhood or to soul Verse 5: A Sun shine down, brightly shine A Down on all the land A Shine down on the newborn lambs A D C A C A A butcher's knife is in his hand Verse 6: D C Bb A Mama, she keeps them unprepared Bb To meet the enemy C E7 That's comin' unto us D C Bb A Bb Teach them that evil dwells across the sea C Lives in a mountain E7 Like they see on TV Verse 7: A Down in the heart of town A The Devil dresses up A He keeps his nails clean N.C. D C A C A Did you think he'd be a boogeyman? Verse 8: D C Bb A Oh, Mama's stuck with sagging dreams Bb C She'll sell a son or two into some slavery E7 That's lucrative and fine D C Bb A Just teach them not to criticize Bb C Say "Yes" to bosses, impress the clients D# A Ah teachers of the world teach them to fake it well Instrumental: A Verse 9: A School bell go "Ding! Dong! Ding!" A The children all line up A They do what they are told A D C A C A Take a little drink from the liar's cup