Up there, up there, up there on the platform
He is speaking to the people
The people are responding
With clapping and a cheering

But the meaning of the message
Not revealed to those assembled
They're taken for a ride
Taken in his stride

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

There's a rumour in the ranking
Someone's talking insurrection
General has a purge
He wants to win election

With the certain satisfaction
That the people are appeased
Long live the revolution
The General's very pleased

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats around
Sitting on the fence both ears to the ground
The fat cats still push the thin cats

Introducing the new, introducing the new
Introducing the new, introducing the new
Australians strivin' for privacy and philosophy
As long as you're gonna fit no one
Who satisfy the people who got the most money
You stay in the goverrnment

Well we don't like those kind of governments in Australia
Those governments that don't care about
Young Australians
Those governments that don't care about
Nuclear weapons
Those governments that don't care about
The resources and the environment
Those governments that don't care about
Anything else other than their exclusive cynical chase for power

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

When the Generals talk
You better listen to him
When the Generals talk
You better do what he say

When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
When the Generals talk
You better listen to him