World Citizen
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto Lyrics

There goes one baby's life
The loss of one infant's life is about to be discussed.

It's such a small amount
The significance of this loss seems insignificant.

She's un-American
This infant is not considered a US citizen.

I guess it doesn't count
Therefore, her death is not given much importance.

Six thousand children's lives
The discussion now shifts to the tragic loss of 6000 children.

Were simply thrown away
These children's lives were lost carelessly, without much thought.

Lost without medicine
These children could have been saved with proper access to healthcare and medication.

Inside of thirty days
All this happened within a month.

In the New York harbour
The blame is being shifted to the New York harbor area.

Where the stock's withheld
It is suggested that there is under-the-table stock withholding involved.

It was the price we paid
The loss of those children's lives was the price paid for a 'safer world'.

For a safer world
It is believed that their lives were lost for the greater good of a safer world.

World is suffering
The world is experiencing immense pain and hardship.

World citizen
This connects us all as global citizens.

In Madhya Pradesh
The focus now shifts to Madhya Pradesh, India.

Where they're building dams
Dams are being constructed here.

They're displacing native people
The construction has resulted in the displacement of indigenous people.

From their homes and lands
Their homes and lands are being taken away from them.

So they hunger strike
As a response, some are turning to hunger strikes.

Cos they believe they count
These people believe that their lives matter, and are worth fighting for.

To lose a single life
The loss of even one life is significant.

In the name of progress
It is suggested that this displacement is supposedly in the name of progress.

And democracy
Or worse, under the guise of democracy.

The concepts represented in name only
These concepts have been used in name only, and not in reality.

And the buildings fall
The lines move to buildings falling as a result of conflict.

In a cloud of dust
These buildings collapse in an instant, reduced to nothing but dust.

And we ask ourselves
The people who witness this react with confusion.

How could they hate us?
They wonder how they could be so hated to have such violence inflicted upon them.

Well, when we live in ignorance and luxury
The reason this is happening is because some of us live in ignorance and luxury.

While our super powers practice
Our superpowers continue to practice this puppet mastery.

Puppet mastery
The act of secretly controlling events and people behind the scenes.

We raise the men
Men we raise to power are responsible for supporting these fascist states.

Who run the fascist states
They run these states with oppressive and authoritarian tactics.

And we sell them arms
We also sell these states weapons.

So they maintain their place
Thus ensuring that these leaders can retain their control and power.

We turn our backs
We readily ignore the atrocities committed by these leaders.

On the things they done
These atrocities range from human rights violations to the arms trade.

Their human rights record
These countries' records concerning human rights violations are pitiful.

And the guns they run
The trade of firearms is a highly lucrative business for these states.

Who'll do away with flags?
The artist questions who has the courage to reject nationalism and racism.

Who'll do us proud?
Who will take us forward with a sense of pride?

Remove the money from their pockets
The solution to the problem suggested is to act financially, by boycotting and denying funds outright.

Scream dissent out loud?
Should we scream out in protest and rebellion?

Cos god ain't on our side
The singer acknowledges that there is no divine intervention to make things right.

The shoe won't fit
Metaphorically, it seems that the solution is not yet ready-made.

And though they think the war is won
Although certain people believe a definitive solution is at hand, this is not the case.

That's not the last of it
This is only the beginning, as change continues to be fought for.

Disenfranchised people
The focus returns to those who have been denied their right to vote and take part in formal processes.

Need their voices heard
They must not be silenced, and their plight needs to be voiced and represented.

And if no one stops to listen
The danger is that their voices will not be heard, and their struggles dismissed.

Lose their faith in words
As a result of which, such people will lose all faith in the system and the promise of progress.

And violence rises
Frustration and anger brings violence to the surface.

When all hope is lost
Things will get to this point when people run out of hope.

Who'll embrace the human spirit
Who will come forward to reconnect with our shared humanity?

And absorb the cost?
This will require a considerable amount of sacrifice and introspection.

Not one life is taken
The solution lies in the fact that not one more life will be lost in the name of progress or democracy.

In my name
This final line ties back to the earlier discussions, suggesting that the responsibility lies with all those who have allowed such atrocities to continue in their name.