People, wasting away in paradise
Going backwards, once in a while
Taking your time, give it a try
What do you believe, what do you believe?
What do you believe is true?
And nothing they say makes a difference this way
Nothing they say will do
You take all the trouble that you can afford
At least you won't have time to be bored
At least you won't have time to be bored
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Oh-oh, the temper of the time
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line
♪
Sunburnt faces around, with skin so brown
Smiling, zinc cream and crowds, Sundays the beach, never a cloud
Breathing eucalypt, pushing panel vans
Stuff and munch junk food, laughing at the truth
'Cause Gough was tough 'til he hit the rough
Hey, Uncle Sam and John were quite enough
Too much of sunshine, too much of sky
It's just enough to make you wanna cry
It's just enough to make you wanna cry
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Oh-oh, the temper of the time
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line
♪
I see buildings clothing the sky, in paradise
Sydney nights are warm, daytime telly,
Blue rinse dawn
And dad's so bad, he lives in the pub
It's an underarms and football club
Flat chat, Pine Gap, in every home a Big Mac
And no one goes outback, that's that
You take what you get to get what you please
It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees
It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Oh-oh, the temper of the time
Oh-oh, the power and the passion
Sometimes you've got to take the hardest line