**[Intro — ominous guitar harmonics ]** Ladies and gentlemen— **WELCOME ABOARD!** The orchestra is ready. The captain is missing. **LET'S GO!** **[Verse 1 — tight rap cadence]** Champagne popping in the executive suite, While the floor downstairs starts buckling beneath their feet, Captain on the loudspeaker, “Everything's fine,” Funny how the water keeps rising every time. First-class passengers arguing over the seats, Meanwhile the engine room's screaming underneath. Everybody dressed up for the grand parade, Nobody asking who designed the masquerade. I've got a ticket— No destination. I've got a seat— No explanation. I've got a front-row view Of the whole thing going wrong, So I picked up the microphone And turned it into a song. **[Pre-Chorus — gang vocals]** **ALL ABOARD!** Who's steering? **NOBODY!** Who's listening? **NOBODY!** Then strike the chord— **AND SING!** **[Chorus — huge gang vocals]** **SYMPHONY FOR A SINKING SHIP!** Raise your voice while the whole thing slips! **SYMPHONY FOR A SINKING SHIP!** Everybody dance when the deck starts to tip! Brass in the air! Drums in the night! Everybody sing while they argue who's right! **SYMPHONY!** **FOR A SINKING SHIP!** **[Verse 2 — rapid-fire rap]** Scratch that— Run it back— Listen to the captain explain the facts. “Nothing to see,” while the windows crack, “Stay in your seats,” while the floor gives way. They sold us a dream with a luxury price, Then charged us again for the emergency lights. Now every politician's got a speech prepared, But nobody's answering who's supposed to care. I see the orchestra polishing the strings, Playing pretty little songs for the powerful kings. But the rhythm changes when the people stand, And suddenly the conductor can't control the band. **[Guitar Scratch Break]** *CHK-CHK!* **SKRRAAAP!** *CHK-CHK!* **SKRRAAAP!** **CUT!** **GO!** **CUT!** **GO!** **[Verse 3 — aggressive punk/thrash delivery]** This isn't panic— This is recognition. This isn't chaos— This is your condition. You built the walls, You picked the locks, You counted every dollar While ignoring the clocks. Now the water's at the doorway, And the orchestra plays, While the people in the balcony Are screaming for change. You can blame the passengers, You can blame the crew, You can blame everybody Except the ones who knew. **[Breakdown — call and response]** **WHO'S GOT THE PLAN?** **NOT THEM!** **WHO'S GOT THE ANSWER?** **NOT THEM!** **WHO'S GOT THE VOICE?** **WE DO!** **WHO'S GOT THE BEAT?** **WE DO!** **THEN PLAY IT!** **PLAY IT!** **PLAY IT!** **[Bridge — half-time, sinister]** The violins keep crying— The brass keeps blowing— The captain keeps smiling— The whole ship's going— **DOWN!** **DOWN!** **DOWN!** **[Final Chorus — full band / gang vocals]** **SYMPHONY FOR A SINKING SHIP!** Raise your voice while the whole thing slips! **SYMPHONY FOR A SINKING SHIP!** Everybody dance when the deck starts to tip! No more speeches! No more lies! No more pretty songs While the whole thing dies! **SYMPHONY!** **FOR A SINKING SHIP!** **[Outro — riff repeatedly cuts out and returns]** **CAPTAIN!** Where are we going? **NOWHERE!** **CAPTAIN!** What's the plan? **NOWHERE!** **CAPTAIN!** Then who's playing? **WE ARE!** **ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!** **SYMPHONY FOR A SINKING SHIP!**
