The Gasman Cometh

Album: Stations Of The Crass (1979)
Play Video
  • The train now standing on platform four,
    What will you do when the gas taps turn?
    Where will you be when the bodies burn?
    Will you just watch as the cattle trucks roll by?
    Pretend it isn't happening? Turn a blind eye?
    See the army convoys quietly passing by?
    Heard the helicopters in your little bit of sky?
    Have you seen the squad cars packed with boys in blue?
    Have you ever wondered what they're there to do?
    Pictures in the paper of soldiers in the street,
    Pictures in the history books of rotting human meat.
    Auschwitz's now a tourist spot for the goggle eyed to pry,
    Still in working order just for you and I.
    Photos of the victims, of gas, of gun, of bomb,
    Inheritance of violence in the bookshelves of your home.
    Don't wait for it to come to you, 'cause come it surely will,
    The guardians of the state are trained to search, destroy and kill.

    There's people sitting at this moment, fingers on the trigger,
    There's loyalty and royalty to make their violence figure.
    Allegiance to the flag, they say, as they lock the prison door,
    Allegiance to normality, that's what lobotomies are for.
    God, queen and country, they say we've got the choice,
    Free speech for all if you've got no voice.
    Propaganda on the airwaves, here's the way to live,
    Not for you and me the alternative.
    The look for peace in Ireland with a thousand squaddy boys,
    Torture in their mental homes is another of their ploys.
    They'll keep us all in line, by christ, they'll keep us on our toes,
    But if we stand against their power, we'll see how violence grows.
    Read it in the paper about rebellious youth,
    But it's them that are so violent, it's them that hide the truth.
    Stay in line, or pay the cost,
    Do you think they care when another life's lost?

    Auschwitz's now a tourist spot for the goggle eyed to pry,
    Still in working order just for you and I.

    To ashes at Auschwitz it's just a small leap,
    From coshes at Southall, life is cheap.
    Don't think that they won't do it, 'cause they already do,
    But this time 'round the pawns are me and you. Publisher: ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Ross from Leicester, United Kingdom"Dated and parochial" - ouch! Crass lyrics were often written with direct reference to issues that were current at the time in the UK and were intended to challenge the views of listeners, including those already in the punk scene. I don't think Crass ever really thought people would still be paying much attention to these songs 30 years later. It's a bit like criticising a political leaflet for being dated! However Crass remain hugely influential internationally at an underground level so I guess you're wrong (not that I'd choose to lisen to most of their stuff either..!!)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Graduation Songs

Graduation SongsFact or Fiction

Have you got the smarts to know which of these graduation song stories are real?

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?