Midnight Oil - Power and the passion

People, wasting away in paradise
Going backwards, once in a while
Takin' your time, give it a try
What do you believe, what do you believe
What do you believe is true?
And nothing they say makes a difference this way
Nothing they say will do

You take all the trouble that you can afford
At least you won't have time to be bored
At least you won't have time to be bored

Oh, the power and the passion
Oh, the temper of the time
Oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line

Sunburned faces around, with skin so brown
Smiling, zinc cream and crowds, Sundays the beach
Never a cloud, breathing eucalypt,
Pushing panel vans, stuff and munch junk food
Laughing at the truth, 'cos' Gough was tough
Til he hit the rough, hey
Uncle Sam and John were quite enough

Too much of sunshine too much of sky
It's just enough to make you wanna cry
It's just enough to make you wanna cry

Oh, the power and the passion
Oh, the temper of the time
Oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line

I see buildings, clothing the sky, in paradise
Sydney, nights are warm
Daytime telly, blue rinse dawn
And Dad's so bad he lives in the pub,
It's a underarms and football club
A flat chat Pine Gap, in every home a Big Mac,
And no one goes outback, that's that

You take what you get, you get what you please
Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees
It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees

Oh, the power and the passion
Oh, the temper of the time
Oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line