Have You Read the Papers Lately?

Mass hysteria, rape and murder
A woman shouting for help, no one heard her
Too busy focusing on the latest scoop
While slaving for their bread and a cup of soup
People taken hostage and terrorist attacks
Billionaires laundering money to avoid paying taxes
Criminals are everywhere so you better leave town
And you better build a shelter 'cause the sky is falling down
I read it in the paper, so it must be true
Sometimes I like old news better than new

Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If life hasn't killed you, reading about it will
Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If art hasn't killed you, be sure reality will

When life is hard, escape is on a screen
We built our new gods, slaves to new machines
Humanity agreed to choose beauty over brains
The phrasing instead of the message it contains
Popular beliefs have reality in chains
Feeding the flames until nothing remains
Religion, technology, disease or race
When we've destroyed this world, we'll build a new in outer space
Conspiracies for the masses and the truth for the few
'Til someone tells me what to think, I don't have a point of view

Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If life hasn't killed you, reading about it will
Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If art hasn't killed you, be sure reality will

We've got one cake to share and everyone wants their slice
But unless it's free, few are willing to pay the price
The less fit procreate at an exponential growth rate
And social media dictates the public debate
Climate change and nuclear weapons states
Fence yourself in and lock the gate
Paint over the surface of a rotten core
Growing gaps between rich and poor
Cute babies, tomorrow murderers and whores
If it's not given to you, take it by force

Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If life hasn't killed you, reading about it will
Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If art hasn't killed you, be sure reality will

Some are starving and some are way too fat
Some back up their opinions with a baseball bat (splat)
Some use knifes or a reliable gun
Others talk and some of them have to run
As the earth keeps spinning around the sun
When someone blows it up, they'll die knowing they won
Using all our resources, drowning in pollution
Wir brauchen lebensraum and a final solution
The masses rise to another pointless revolution
The losers fight for their retribution

Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If life hasn't killed you, reading about it will
Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If art hasn't killed you, be sure reality will

Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If life hasn't killed you, reading about it will
Have you read the papers lately?
It's enough to make you ill
If art hasn't killed you, be sure reality will