Do They Owe Us a Living
Conflict Lyrics


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Fuck the politically minded, here′s something I want to say,
About the state of nation, the way it treats us today.
At school they give you shit, drop you in the pit,
You try, you try, you try to get out, but you can't because they′ve fucked you about.
Then you're a prime example of how they must not be,
This is just a sample of what they've done to you and me.

Do they owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
OF COURSE THEY FUCKING DO.

Don′t want me anymore, cos I threw it on the floor.
Used to call me sweet thing, I′m nobody's plaything,
And now that I am different, ′d love to bust my head,
You'd love to see me cop-out, ′d love to see me dead.

Do they owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
OF COURSE THEY FUCKING DO.

The living that is owed to me I'm never going to get,
They′ve buggered this old world up, up to their necks in dept.
They'd give you a lobotomy for something you ain't done,
They′ll make you an epitomy of everything that′s wrong.

Do they owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
OF COURSE THEY FUCKING DO.

Don't take any notice of what the public think,
They′re so hyped up with T.V., they just don't want to think.
They′ll use you as a target for demands and for advice,
When you don't want to hear it they′ll say you're full of vice.

Do they owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.
Owe us a living?
Of course they do, of course they do.




Owe us a living?
OF COURSE THEY FUCKING DO.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Conflict's song "Do They Owe Us a Living" express the frustration and anger of the working class against the government and the state of the nation. The song comments on the mistreatment and apathy towards the difficult lives of the working class who struggle against the system of organized oppression. Through their lyrics, Conflict points out that the government is responsible for providing its citizens with a decent standard of living, and the working class has every right to protest their inhuman conditions.


The first verse of the song addresses the state of the education system that mentors individuals to contribute to the workforce, only to be exploited for profit-seeking purposes. The second verse points out how the system pulls back on any support once people start deviating from the norm. The line "Do they owe us a living?" is repeated numerous times throughout the song, reinforcing the point that the government owes its citizens a life worth living. The final verse highlights how the government should not dictate how the public is meant to think, and that they need to think critically and not just accept propaganda blindly.


The song "Do They Owe Us a Living" is one of Conflict's most popular songs and is regarded as a classic punk anthem. The song was released in 1983 on the band's first album "It's Time to See Who's Who" and has become one of the most recognizable punk songs of all time.


Line by Line Meaning

Fuck the politically minded, here's something I want to say, About the state of nation, the way it treats us today.
I reject those who prioritize political maneuvering and want to speak out about how our nation is mistreating us.


At school they give you shit, drop you in the pit, You try, you try, you try to get out, but you can't because they've fucked you about. Then you're a prime example of how they must not be, This is just a sample of what they've done to you and me.
Schools mistreat and discourage students, which makes us examples of how they shouldn't treat us. This is just one instance of the wider issues they've caused.


Do they owe us a living? Of course they do, of course they do. Owe us a living? Of course they do, of course they do. Owe us a living? OF COURSE THEY FUCKING DO.
We are owed a living by those who set up our society and thus should be given what we're due.


Don't want me anymore, cos I threw it on the floor. Used to call me sweet thing, I'm nobody's plaything, And now that I am different, d love to bust my head, You'd love to see me cop-out, d love to see me dead.
Once I expressed myself with disregard to their authority, society turned against me, now wanting to harm and even kill me. I refuse to be their plaything.


The living that is owed to me I'm never going to get, They've buggered this old world up, up to their necks in dept. They'd give you a lobotomy for something you ain't done, They'll make you an epitomy of everything that's wrong.
The living we're owed will never be given to us because those responsible have worsened the world who are also financially in debt. They'll harm and reference us as examples of what's wrong even for things we never even did.


Don't take any notice of what the public think, They're so hyped up with T.V., they just don't want to think. They'll use you as a target for demands and for advice, When you don't want to hear it they'll say you're full of vice.
The general public is brainwashed by television, making them easily manipulated and unlikely to think for themselves. They will make demands and give advice, attacking anyone who disagrees.




Writer(s): Jones, Peter Coomber, Gee Vaucher, Steve Ignorant, Philip Andrew Clancey, Andrew John Palmer, Joy Muriel Elizabeth Haney, Penny Rimbaud

Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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