How to change the world? what a question
Too many answers bend and snap
Those who say that working on the inside
Really works - they get the sack
Cos you can't pretend you're an instant friend
To the people who want your soul on tap
So the question is how far did you get?
Well I've been there and I ain't going back

Ain't going back, I ain't going working on the inside

Well there's experience, know your enemy
But there's a choice you don't want to make
Can you handle the defeat of discovery?
Or can you live with the whole damn cake?
All defense of "never changing"
Changes when the chance has gone
So the question is how far do you go?
What do you mean "I won't belong"?

I won't belong, I won't be working on the inside

Now it's "us and them" when they're not our friends
And "part of the picture" when they are
Too many coins keep flipping me off
You got too near, now it's gone too far
This world is screwed by politics
Apathy religion and crack
By playing the game it's just more of the same
I ain't been there and I ain't going back

Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back
Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back
Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back
Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Citizen Fish's song Working on the Inside serve as a critique of the notion that real change can come from within established power structures. The song acknowledges the complexity of trying to change the world and the difficulty of finding a strategy that works. The central question of the song is “how to change the world?”, and as the song progresses, there seems to be no clear answer. The “too many answers” that are presented often end up “bending and snapping” under the weight of reality.

The lyrics describe the struggles of those who try to work within established institutions to enact meaningful change. Those who try to work from the inside often find themselves getting “the sack” for not being able to keep up the pretense of being an “instant friend” to those who want their “soul on tap”. This is a reference to the demands that powerful people and institutions make on those who try to engage with them. The song asks, “how far do you go?” and suggests that even when you think you know your “enemy”, you may not be able to handle the “defeat of discovery”. The song makes it clear that trying to work on the inside can be a dangerous and isolating experience.

In the end, the song takes a clear stance against working on the inside. The line “I won’t belong, I won’t be working on the inside” is repeated twice at the end of the song as a defiant statement of resistance. The song suggests that the world is “screwed” by established power structures, and that by “playing the game” of politics and power, you’re only perpetuating the problem. The song’s message is clear: if you want to really make a difference, you can’t work on the inside, you have to stay true to your values and fight from the outside.

Line by Line Meaning

How to change the world? what a question
Changing the world is a huge undertaking and requires a lot of thought and effort.

Too many answers bend and snap
There are a lot of different solutions proposed, but they are all fragile and easily broken.

Those who say that working on the inside Really works - they get the sack
People who claim that working within the system to effect change actually succeeds are often fired or punished.

Cos you can't pretend you're an instant friend To the people who want your soul on tap
It's not possible to act like you're best friends with those who only want to take advantage of you.

So the question is how far did you get? Well I've been there and I ain't going back
The question is how much progress have you made, and the artist has been there before but won't return to that situation.

Ain't going back, I ain't going working on the inside
The singer won't return to their past experiences working within the system.

Well there's experience, know your enemy But there's a choice you don't want to make
It's important to have experience and understand your opponents, but there's a difficult choice to make.

Can you handle the defeat of discovery? Or can you live with the whole damn cake?
Can you handle the realization that what you're fighting for may not be attainable, or can you accept the status quo?

All defense of "never changing" Changes when the chance has gone
People who claim they won't change their ideals will often change their position when the opportunity has already passed.

So the question is how far do you go? What do you mean "I won't belong"?
The question is how much are you willing to sacrifice, and what do you mean when you say you won't be a part of the system?

I won't belong, I won't be working on the inside
The singer won't compromise their beliefs and work within the system to effect change.

Now it's "us and them" when they're not our friends And "part of the picture" when they are
People are seen as either allies or enemies, depending on their relationship with the artist, and the artist will work with those who are aligned with their goals.

Too many coins keep flipping me off You got too near, now it's gone too far
The singer feels like they are constantly being pushed around, and when someone gets too close, things get out of hand.

This world is screwed by politics Apathy religion and crack
Politics, apathy, religion, and drugs are all contributing factors to the world's problems.

By playing the game it's just more of the same I ain't been there and I ain't going back
Participating in the system doesn't lead to any real change and the singer won't return to that way of trying to make things better.

Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back
The artist hasn't participated in the system in the past, and won't return to that way of trying to make change happen.

Well I ain't been there and I ain't going back
The singer hasn't participated in the system in the past, and won't return to that way of trying to make change happen.

Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

GLYDR

11y

Saw these supporting the levellers last night, they opened with this one, I was totally impressed

Allison Sullivan

8y↑2

had this on vinyl ,carried It away after the show,MDC,and dayglo abortions also,gave it to Nikki from verbal abuse, can I have it back,sounds way better on vinyl