We laugh in velvet shadows While the banners softly rise A toast to new solutions And the truth we’ve all revised The orchestra is smiling As the city starts to burn But darling, don’t be nervous This is progress, haven’t you learned? Oh bring the champagne for the fire Let the violins conspire If the world becomes a stage We’ll applaud the final liar Drink it down, don’t ask why Close your eyes, enjoy the ride History is just a script That the winners like to rewrite The papers say it’s necessary The neighbors say it’s fine The uniforms look elegant In perfectly pressed lines A joke becomes a slogan A slogan turns to law And if you whisper softly You won’t notice it at all Oh bring the champagne for the fire Let the trumpets climb up higher If the smoke begins to choke you Call it patriotic desire Smile wide, raise your glass Watch the shadows quickly pass Freedom is a costume That we wear for photographs Ladies and gentlemen… Please remain seated There is no cause for alarm The flames are decorative The screams are exaggerated And the silence… ... is mandatory So bring the champagne for the fire Let the choir sing the choir Every empire needs a chorus Of the deaf and of the tired Dance along, don’t resist Blow a kiss into the mist If we vanish in the night… We’ll pretend it never existed
