|

What Have We Done To The Beautiful Game?

Crispin Thomas

Saturday, November 27th, 2004

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 born in the heart of London town
the sound of jazz still blowing around
Moscow Dynamo were turning on the style
when I was still crawling and learning how to smile
there in the shadow of the Chelsea lights
never knew the difference ‘tween black and white
I had African and Irish and Indian friends
but race ain’t an issue when you’re nine or ten –
played for my school I was deadly on the wing
but out on the streets I learned everything
bunking in to matches I never got caught
always been expensive but I never would’ve thought
just how far from the people we’d stray
just what it’s come to when you look at it today
I can’t quite believe it but I still feel the same
forget about the rest – it’s a beautiful game

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 but take away the money take away the fame
take away the hype and the struggle and the pain
take away the luxury take away the homes
strip it right down-take it back to the bone
superstar lives getting out of control
bleeding all the fans of money and soul
apathy inflation ego and greed
whatever happened to basic need
driven by power on a global scale
corruption at the top such a sad an’ common tale
ticket costs-merchandise going insane
take it all away from the beautful game

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 millionaire teenager running round wild
millionaire startlet acting like a child
millionaire manager for country and club
millionaire bench full of millionaire subs
take away petulence take away the snobs
take away racism take away the yobs
take away arrogance take away cheats
put a bit back to the kids on the streets
put it back-put it back-back from where it came
still wanna see it as a beautiful game

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 but who are the culprits – is it you and me
sitting there silent at the game or on TV?
quiet as cardboard just filling up the rows
fifty quid a ticket and up and up it goes
with nobody complaining or feeling the itch
am i the only person who hasn’t got rich?
where’s it gonna lead us where’s it gonna end
sometimes i feel like it’s going round the bend –
and who are the people that are carrying a torch
where are the openings we’ve been tryin’ to forge
what about the future what about the dream
pop stars and soccer stars it’s such an empty scene
but people keep paying so who’s the one to blame
what have we done to the beautiful game?

© CT04

Notes

never say never but never say “whatever!”

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/what-have-we-done-to-the-beautiful-game/