the Best that We can do

high on olympus through dark tinted panes
we hear the echo of shouted complaints
naïve utopians, those hippies and louts
we'll raise the barricades again and keep them out of our way
  it may not look good, but it's the best that we can do

we advise you to stay home and keep quiet
if you want trouble we can lay on a riot
yes we'll sponsor each stone that is hurled
roll the cameras: we'll soon show the world who's in charge
  we are not proud, but it's the best that we can do

  for the world is a hostile place
  and its rulers must be tough
  and we promise to try to care
  isn't that enough?

some win, some lose - that's just how it goes
it's all explained here in columns and rows
we're here to help; remember, we don't make the rules
we just serve the market, make the most of the tools that we have
  and so you see this is the best that we can do

we planned for peace when we met in the snow
we thought united we'd prosper and grow
but it's been sixty long years since bretton woods
have those good intentions achieved as little good as you say?
  well, we tried to do the best that we could do

  for the world is a hostile place
  and its rulers must be tough
  and we promise to try to care
  isn't that enough?

so nations buckle trying to service their debt
while their people struggle for water and bread
so epidemics are encouraged to spread
we'll nurse the profits, and as for the dead, bring 'em out
  sometimes murder is the best that we can do

from alaska to the zambian planes
in driest desert and under tropical rains
from new york city to tokyo, please
up in the boardrooms and down in the streets, sing it loud:
  can this really be the best that we can do?