The Future Now - Peter Hammill

Here we are, static in the latter half

Of the twentieth century

But it might as well be the Middle Ages

There’ll have to be some changes

But how they’ll come about foxes me

I want the future now

I want to hold it in my hands;

All men equal and unbowed

I want the Promised Land

But that doesn’t seem to get any closer

And Moses has had his day…

The tablets of law are an advertising poster

Civilisation here to stay

And this is progress?

You must be joking!

Me, I’m looking for any kind of hope

I want the future now

I want to see it on the screen

I want to break the bounds

That make our lives so mean

Oh, blind, blinded, blinding hatred

Of race, sex, religion, colour, country and creed

These scream from the pages of everything I read

You just bring me oppression and torture

Apartheid, corruption and plague;

You just bring me the rape of the planet

And joke world rights at the Hague

Oh, someday the Millennium!

But how far is someday away?

I want the future now

I’m young, and it’s my right

I want a reason to be proud

I want to see the light

I want the future now

I want to see it on the screen

I want to break the bounds:

Make life worth more than dreams

Yeah, wake up the planet!