About The Song
 This is a song I wrote way back in 1975! I was living and working in London, England at the time. I was also in my mid-20s, and this song documented my feelings about the capitalist system, and the many injustices it visited upon the people of the world.

 Of course, it wasn't written originally in a rap/hip hop style. Then it was an acoustic folk protest song, but I was interested in trying my hand at a rap style of song, and the lyrics fitted perfectly. The basic groove for the track is built up from a handful of samples again taken from one of the Computer Music cover disks. 

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Lyrics

The Future Is Theirs 
© 1974 & 2005, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.   

In an age that is cursed by a system that’s burst, 
and rotten through to the core. 
That refuses to die and continues to try to govern, 
rancid, and sore. 
Expect nothing better than shackles and fetters 
that hold you and keep you in check. 
That seize and mistreat you, and thoroughly beat you, 
a burden around your neck.

With a job to be done, find a man with a gun, 
pay him well and he’ll do what he can. 
Everywhere to be found, in the air, on the ground, 
he can work very well to a plan. 
With an army too quiet, prepare for a riot, 
you’ve got to keep them amused. 
Keep them happy today, and tomorrow they’ll play, 
just hope they don't rape and abuse.

In so many nations, find death from starvation, 
poverty is just for the poor. 
Illiteracy rising, the masters despising, 
afraid they may ask for more. 
Through puppets and whores, wage colonial wars 
in the interests of profit and greed. 
Repressed by the gun, there is death for the one 
who dares to demand to be freed.

When democracy fails, you will find them in jails 
and camps, surrounded by seas. 
Using terror and torture, repression and murder 
to beat people onto their knees. 
In a thousand more ways, they control everyday, 
you cry - there is naught you can do. 
So just close your door, like you have done before, 
you know they won’t come for you.

They will plan the demands, and in place you will stand 
every minute means more to be made. 
Whether young man or girl, they will make your life hell, 
and the younger - the less you are paid. 
Exploitation and discrimination 
are common enough to be rules. 
They can take you and make you, or leave you and break you, 
because you are nothing but tools.

To help win the plan, every woman and man 
is allotted their place in the sun. 
Everything will be fine, if you stay in the line, 
the target is there to be won. 
When racism rumbles, the rational crumbles 
and ignorance comes to the fore. 
By division and rule, the wise man and fool 
is kept from the rich man's door.

So wallow in violence, crime, sex, and drugs, 
drink a bottle or two. 
Stand on the corner kicking your heels, well, 
what else is there to do? 
You were taught in school to obey all the rules, 
there is trouble for those who don’t bend. 
So do not criticize, believe all the lies, 
this wonderful system won’t end.

While you live in a vacuum, and rot in the backroom, 
others are fighting the strife, 
From a world of disorder, they’ll build one of order, 
peace, progress, and life. 
Where the colour of skin is a beauty, not sin, 
and language is there to be heard, 
Where life is for living, and pleasure for giving, 
and poverty only a word. 
Where education and leisure, are worth more than treasure, 
and work is not governed by cares, 
Where all folk hand in hand, united will stand, 
and know - the future is theirs.

That's right. There future is theirs.
The future is yours too.