Play to fear and insecurity

Promise that the glory will be theirs only if you are elected

Prey on the opposition

Come to power on the backs of a coalition of the disaffected

Appoint a shadow politician

To show the base that you mean it

Consolidate your coalition

Trust in you, not what they’re seeing

 

Make liberal an epithet

And denigrate the word of anyone

Who ever dared to work for progress

Call the media the enemy

And watch ‘em as they pile on to sacrifice their principles for access

Identify another scapegoat

To keep the rubes in their anger

If cornered, fire off a fake quote

In case of clear and present danger

 

“I see it now,” you say to me

“The ceiling’s not as high as I was told it would be.”

“I’ll burn it down,” you say to me

“If I don’t get my way then what’s the point of being free?
 Explain it to me.”

 

Build a wall, build a border, build a barrier

No matter what you call another word for extortion

Keep the fundies entertained

While you get another NDA signed for your mistress’s abortion

Name God a wealthy benefactor

As long as you pray the right way

If you protest then you must be an actor

Either my way or the highway

 

“I see it now,” you say to me

“The ceiling’s not as high as I was told it would be.”

“I’ll burn it down,” you say to me

“If I don’t get my way then what’s the point of being free?
Explain it to me.”

 

Consolidate the judiciary

And if you’re reelected float the concept of the loser in a show trial

Declare yourself the father of the people

And send all your opponents into jail or to exile

Dare them to call you on your bullshit

Relitigate all your losses

See just how far they’ll let you push it

Wrapped in flags and carrying crosses

 

“I see it now,” you say to me

“The ceiling’s not as high as I was told it would be.”

“I’ll burn it down,” you say to me

“If I don’t get my way then what’s the point of being free?”

 

“I see it now,” you say to me

“This country’s not as white as it’s supposed to be.”

“I’ll burn it down,” you say to me

“If I don’t get my way then what’s the point of being free? 
Explain it to me.”