[Spoken Intro — Carnival Barker, Slow Snare Drum] Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up! Behold the eighth wonder of the modern world! Eight feet of gold! Not a stitch of clothing! And somebody else does all the walking! Somebody get that poor man a union! [Verse 1 — Swaggering Blues-Rock] There's a golden man in Strasbourg, Sitting high upon his throne, Got a golf club in his fingers, But he can't stand on his own. There's a little man beneath him, With the whole world upon his back, While the emperor keeps on shouting, "Make it great! Stay on track!" [Pre-Chorus — Building Brass] The rich man gets the sunshine, The poor man gets the rain, One man wears a golden crown, The other bears the pain! [Chorus — Full Band, Crowd Response] Hey! Hey! Look who's riding! Golden emperor, nowhere hiding! No pants! No shame! No dignity! Just a mountain of hypocrisy! Hey! Hey! Hear us holler! Who's beneath that golden collar? The emperor's naked, the emperor's gold, But we ain't the ones who have to hold! [Verse 2 — Playful Brass and Guitar] He's got justice in his left hand, Got a golf club in his right, Says the scales are balanced, While he's crushing someone tight. Says the economy is booming, Says we're winning every day, But the man who's doing all the lifting Hasn't seen a raise in pay! [Call and Response — Stomping Rhythm] Who's doing all the working? (The people down below!) Who's collecting all the money? (The people up above!) Who's carrying the emperor? (The ninety-nine percent!) Who's paying for the golf game? (Every last damn cent!) [Chorus — Full Band] Hey! Hey! Look who's riding! Golden emperor, nowhere hiding! No pants! No shame! No dignity! Just a mountain of hypocrisy! Hey! Hey! Hear us holler! Who's beneath that golden collar? The emperor's naked, the emperor's gold, But we ain't the ones who have to hold! [Verse 3 — Blues Breakdown] Back in twenty-eleven, We were standing in the street, With cardboard signs and coffee, And the pavement at our feet. They said we didn't understand, Said our movement wouldn't last, Now a sculptor's built a monument To the weight upon our backs! [Instrumental Break — Trombone Solo, Guitar Riff, Crowd Stomping] [Spoken — Street Theater Announcer, Band Punctuates Each Line] Attention, citizens! The Department of Imperial Transportation Announces a shortage of shoulders! Volunteers report to your nearest billionaire! Benefits include: No healthcare! No retirement! And the privilege of being called lazy! [Brass Stab — Crowd Laughter] [Bridge — Slow, Soulful, Building] But there's something that the emperor Never learned to understand, That the man beneath his golden weight Is the one who makes him stand. And the moment that he realizes He can lay that burden down, All the gold in all the kingdom Won't keep the emperor off the ground! [Build — Snare Drum, Foot Stomps, Rising Brass] One man carries! (One man rides!) One man suffers! (One man hides!) One man works! (One man owns!) Who built the kingdom? (WE BUILT THE THRONE!) [Final Chorus — Explosive Brass, Full Choir, Crowd] Hey! Hey! Look who's riding! Golden emperor, nowhere hiding! No pants! No shame! No dignity! Just a mountain of hypocrisy! Hey! Hey! Hear us holler! Who's beneath that golden collar? The emperor's naked, the emperor's gold, But we ain't the ones who have to hold! [Final Chant — Occupy Mic Check, Drums Only] MIC CHECK! (MIC CHECK!) THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES! (THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!) HE'S GOT PLENTY OF GOLD! (HE'S GOT PLENTY OF GOLD!) BUT WE'RE PUTTING HIM DOWN! (BUT WE'RE PUTTING HIM DOWN!) [Outro — Band Stops, One Voice] The emperor has no clothes. And the people have had enough. [Final Brass Hit — End]
