(Intro hook - big upbeat beat first then Tambourine) (Vocal -Male main vocal folk - whispered soft MALE voice) **[Verse 1]** There's a man in a suit with a smile so clean, Selling little dreams on a television screen. Says, "Trust in the system, we've got it all planned," While another hand reaches deep in your pockets. They shake and they smile for the cameras outside, Then disappear through a revolving door ride. One leaves the office, one walks right in, Funny how the same old game always seems to win. **[Pre-Chorus]** Follow the money, follow the trail, Follow the promises that somehow fail. Look behind the curtain, look behind the grin, There's always somebody pulling the strings. **[Chorus]** Who's holding the strings? Who's pulling the wire? Who's pulling the strings while we fight for the scraps? Who's making the rules? Who's calling the shots? Who's counting the money while we're counting the cost? They say, "Trust us!" We say, "We'll see..." Who's holding the strings Of our liberty? **[Verse 2]** The banker says, "Markets are perfectly fine," While another small business runs out of time. The politician says, "Things are improving," While the cost of the living keeps slowly moving. The headline screams, "We've got breaking news!" Then sells us another opinion to choose. One side says "left", the other says "right", Everybody's fighting while the rich get fat. **[Pre-Chorus]** Left, right, centre, pick your team, Fight about the label and forget the machine. While we're busy shouting who's wrong and who's right, The same old hands are counting all night. **[Chorus]** Who's holding the strings? Who's pulling the wire? Who's pulling the strings while we fight for the scraps? Who's making the rules? Who's calling the shots? Who's counting the money while we're counting the cost? They say, "Trust us!" We say, "We'll see..." Who's holding the strings Of our liberty? **[Verse 3]** They tell us we're lucky, they tell us we're free, Then tell us exactly what we're allowed to see. They give us a choice from a carefully picked shelf, Then congratulate us for choosing ourselves. They tell us the future is bright as the sun, Then quietly change all the rules while we're done. But people aren't stupid, and people can see, A puppet ain't free just because it can speak. **[Bridge]** Cut one string... Then another one falls. Pull down the curtain... Look behind the walls. No king, no master, No puppet show. The people are waking... And starting to know. **[Final Chorus]** Who's holding the strings? Who's pulling the wire? Who's turning the wheel while we dance round the fire? Who's making the rules? Who's calling the shots? Who's counting the money while we're counting the cost? They say, "Trust us!" We say, "We'll see..." You can hide the strings... **But you can't hide what we see.** **[Outro]** Who's holding the strings? Who's pulling the wire? Maybe the question... Isn't who. Maybe it's... **Why do we keep letting them pull?**
