Today I bring you the lyrics of a song written by Declan Patrick MacManus - better known to many of you as the rock singer/musician Elvis Costello.
PEACE IN OUR TIME
Out of the aeroplane stepped Chamberlain with a condemned man's stare
But we all cheered wildly, a photograph was taken,
as he waved a piece of paper in the air
Now the Disco Machine lives in Munich and we are all friends
And I slip on my Italian dancing shoes as the evening descends
And the bells take their toll once again in victory chime
And we can thank God that we've finally got
Peace in our time
There's a man going round taking names no
matter who you claim to be
As innocent as babies, a mad dog with rabies,
you're still a part of some conspiracy
Meanwhile there's a light over the ocean
burning brighter than the sun
And a man sits alone in a bar and says "Oh God,
what have we done?"
And the bells take their toll once again in victory chime
And we can thank God that we've finally got
Peace in our time
They're lighting a bonfire upon every hilltop in the land
Just another tiny island invaded when he's got
the whole world in his hands
And the Heavyweight Champion fights in the
International Propaganda Star Wars
There's already one spaceman in the White
House what do you want another one for?
And the bells take their toll once again in victory chime
And we can thank God that we've finally got
Peace in our time
Elvis Costello
The phrase "peace for our time" was spoken on 30 September, 1938 by British prime minister Neville Chamberlain in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement, often misquoted as "peace in our time". It is primarily remembered for its ironic value.
The Munich Agreement gave the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Hitler in an attempt to satisfy his desire for Lebensraum or "living space" for Germany. The German occupation of Sudetenland began on 1 October.
One year after the agreement, following continued aggression from Germany and its invasion of Poland, Europe was plunged into World War II.
P.S. There is an interesting biography of Elvis Costello at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Costello
Also - Follow the link:in Neil's comment below to see EC performing the song.
