Power
Keating! Lyrics

I was an angel in the beginning
John Howard reflects on his childhood innocence and naivety.

I thought of playing but not of winning
As a child, John Howard was not competitive and did not prioritize winning above all else.

So frail and weak, so meek and mild,
John Howard did not possess great physical strength or assertiveness during his youth.

I was the world's most agreeable child
Howard was a likeable and cooperative child, always seeking to make others happy.

I had my share of schoolyard beatings
Growing up, John Howard suffered from bullying and physical abuse at school.

I made my fair and frightened bleatings
Howard was often too afraid to stand up for himself and would instead express his anxieties through nervous vocalization.

But I began to understand
Through his experiences, Howard began to grasp the power dynamics that exist in society.

What they held in their bullying hands...
Howard realized that his aggressors held the power to intimidate and control him through their physical dominance.

I want power! I want power!
Howard desires the ability to control and dominate others.

I want to smell my own ambition in flower!
Howard seeks personal recognition and satisfaction from achieving his ambitions.

I want a sense of domination and control!
John Howard wishes to exercise his power over others and dictate their decisions.

I want to bat! I want to bowl!
Howard wants to be in control of every aspect of the situation, even down to the smallest details.

The kind where servant girls bring tributes by the hour!
Howard desires the highest level of power, where even those serving him must constantly pay homage.

And I won't rest until I rule the school!
Howard is determined to become the dominant figure in whatever environment he is in.

Then I'll be hip, then I'll be cool.
Howard believes that achieving power will change other people's perceptions of him and make him more popular or well-liked.

Not a single soul alive to call me coward!
Howard desires fear and respect from others, never wishing to be perceived as weak or timid.

You'll be the big, big cheese
Howard will become the most powerful and authoritative figure in the society he leads.

I won't say sorry! I won't say please!
Howard will refuse to show weakness or vulnerability in his leadership role.

They'll pay for every time I scraped and bowed and cowered
Howard seeks to become a vengeful leader who will assert his power over those who have previously mistreated or wronged him.

I'll do what must be done
Howard is willing to take any necessary action to achieve his goals of power and control.

To make John Howard number one!
John Howard wishes to become the most prominent and respected figure in politics and society.

Not just to sit in Opposition and glower!
Howard wants to be in a position of power, not simply critiquing those who already have it.

I want to turn this mother loose!
Howard seeks to unleash his power to its fullest extent.

Show me the money! Give me the juice!
Howard wants to receive the financial and political support necessary to achieve his goals of power and control.

I'll give Australia a gorgeous golden shower!
John Howard will bestow greatness and prosperity upon Australia through his leadership.

And I won't rest until I rule!
Howard is driven to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming the most powerful figure in his society.

Then I'll be cruel, then I'll be cool.
Howard believes that his power will make him cool or popular, even if that means treating others cruelly.

I'll show that Keating joker how his grapes have soured!
Howard seeks revenge against Paul Keating, hoping to prove himself superior and show him the damage he has done.

You'll be the man in charge
John Howard will be responsible for the decisions that shape his society.

I'll go ballistic! I'm livin' large!
Howard is excited and celebratory about his newfound power and influence.

With a biography by Pru and David Goward
Howard sees his power as an opportunity to achieve personal recognition, even through the writing of his own biography.

And when it comes to be,
Howard anticipates his inevitable rise to power.

I'll make the bastards bow to me!
Howard desires complete submission and obedience from those around him, showing his desire for total control.

BOW TO ME.
Howard's ultimate goal is to achieve total dominance over his society, demanding the complete submission of all those around him.