I Know Nothing

The prisoner gets on his knees and pleads into the dark
"You can freeze all of my assets, you can repossess my car
Deprive me of the carphones where I make my deepest deals
You can take away the self-help books that tell me how I feel
You can read all of my diaries
That won't take you long
You could offer me protection
Or a new ID in Hong Kong
But please be understanding
I know nothing"

The torturer adjusts his mask and snaps his rubber gloves
He reads the orders once again faxed down from above
Shrugs his shoulders just like when the kids have made a mess
Says "Please don't try to talk to me unless it's to confess
I'm sorry if you're innocent but even if you are
All I have is orders
And I carry out the task
So whatever you're thinking
I know nothing"

And the warden says "Jackson Pollock bloodstains and Yoko Ono screams
Screw up my siesta, they contaminate my dreams
The soundproofing here is laughable, the walls are paper thin
Every time one switch is pulled, all the desk lights dim
All my children go to school
Their Dad's a bureaucrat
I transport X from A to B
That is where my job's at
And I hope you're understanding
I know nothing"

Half the world's in prison and the other half's the same
It's just that some are suffering and some inflicting pain
Everybody has his place, that is pre-ordained
Like the illusion of free movement through the links that form the chain
So when you're down and dirty
And you're coming back for more
Make sure the line is orderly
We like a tidy war
And when they're asking
Say "I know nothing"