Lyrics

I saw the future
It was made in China
Just another knock-off
Of the good old USA
The tour guide showed me
Temples and dragons
But I couldn’t take my eyes
Off the everyday.

CHORUS 1:
Now China blue is just for teacups
It’s not in rivers
It’s not in sky
The birds have flown from the concrete forest
Of 20 million people in Shanghai.

They call it progress
Super-sonic fast track
I call it power lines
Over everything you see.
I call it armies
Of tall grey buildings
Stretching on and on and on
To eternity.

CHORUS 2:
Now China blue is just for teacups
It’s not in rivers
It’s not in sky
The birds have flown from the concrete forest
But giant cranes keep building in Shanghai.

I saw the future
On a Chinese billboard:
A tall blond model
In the fashions of today
They want the hot look
They want the cool car
They want the fast food
And they want it right away!

I saw the future
It was made in China
Just another knock-off
Of the good old USA
They give us lead paint
We give ‘em fool’s gold
We’re trading poisons every day.

CHORUS 2

I saw the future.