The Parrot Parade

Step Right Up Step Right Up Come On In, Folks, We've Got A Special Show No Thinking Required No Questions Allowed Just Open Up Your Mouths And Let The Talking Points Flow I've Got A Line For Every Occasion, A Ready-Made Thought For Every Persuasion, Don't Need To Know It, Don't Need To Believe, Just Memorize The Words And Repeat What You Receive I've Got The Slogans, I've Got The Spin, I've Got The Latest Outrage Packaged Up In Tin, Don't Ask Who Wrote It, Don't Ask If It's True, Just Shout It Loud Enough And They'll Believe It Too Who Needs A Mind When You've Got A Script? Who Needs A Spine When Your Tongue's Been Clipped? Don't Need A Reason, Don't Need A Clue, Just Tell Me What To Say And I'll Say It For You Don't Be A Voice Puppet Don't Be Somebody's Mouth Don't Be The Loudspeaker For A Lie That's Heading South If You Won't Think, You're Just The Echo, If You Won't Speak, You're Part Of The Show You Can Shout Their Words Till The Whole World Hears, But Borrowed Voices Don't Make Ideas Yours Step Right Up What Do We Say? What Do We Say? Whatever They Told Us Yesterday Whatever They Told Us Yesterday And What Do We Think? What Do We Think? ...Well, We Don't Have To Think I've Got A Talking Point, Polished And Bright, Works In The Morning And Works Late At Night, Doesn't Matter Who Gets Hurt Along The Way, I've Got Another Slogan For The Things I Can't Say. When Trouble Comes Knocking, I Look Away, Silence Is Convenient When There's Nothing To Say, But Silence Has A Shadow, And Shadows Have Weight, And Standing By The Doorway Doesn't Make You Separate. You Can Pass The Message, You Can Spread The Flame, Then Claim You Never Knew Who Was To Blame, But Every Little Echo Helps The Chorus Grow, And You Can't Wash Your Hands Of The Things You Help Sow Don't Be A Voice Puppet Don't Be Somebody's Mouth Don't Be The Loudspeaker For A Lie That's Heading South If You Won't Think, You're Just The Echo, If You Won't Speak, You're Part Of The Show You Can Shout Their Words Till The Whole World Hears, But Borrowed Voices Don't Make Ideas Yours Ladies And Gentlemen... A Question For Our Distinguished Performers... When You Repeat A Thought... Is It Yours? When You Amplify A Message... Do You Own What It Does? And When The House Is Burning... And You Stand There Silent... Are You Just Watching? Or Helping It Burn? A Mouth Is Not A Mind An Echo Is Not A Voice A Script Is Not A Conscience And Silence Is A Choice You Can Be The Megaphone, You Can Be The Amplifier, But Don't Confuse The Speaker With The One Who Wrote The Fire Don't Be A Voice Puppet Don't Be Somebody's Mouth Don't Be The Loudspeaker For A Lie That's Heading South Think For Yourself Find Your Own Voice Silence And Surrender Are Still A Choice Don't Just Repeat What You're Told To Believe A Mind Without Questions Is Easy To Deceive Step Right Up... Step Right Up... We've Got All The Answers... No Questions... No Questions... Or Maybe... It's Time You Asked Some.