[Verse 1]
I picked the morning paper off the floor
It was full of other people's little wars
Wouldn't they like their peace, don't we get bored?

[Chorus]
And we call for the three great stimulants
Of the exhausted ones
Artifice, brutality and innocence
Artifice and innocence

[Verse 2]
No tanks have ever rumbled through these streets
And the drone of planes at night has never frightened me
I keep the hours and the company that I please

[Chorus]
And we call for the three great stimulants
Of the exhausted ones
Artifice, brutality and innocence
Artifice and innocence

[Bridge]
Oh and deep in the night our appetites find us
Release us and blind us deep in the night
While madmen sit up building bombs and making laws and bars
They'd like to slam free choice behind us
[Verse 3]
I saw a little lawyer on the tube
He said, "it's so easy now, anyone can sue"
"Let me show you how your petty aggravations can profit you"

[Chorus]
Call for the three great stimulants
Of the exhausted ones
Artifice, brutality and innocence
Artifice and innocence

[Bridge]
Oh and deep in the night, appetites find us
Release us and blind us deep in the night
While madmen sit up building bombs and making laws and bars
They're gonna slam free choice behind us

[Verse 4]
Last night I dreamed I saw the planet flicker
Great forests fell like buffalo, everything got sicker
And to the bitter end big business bickered

[Chorus]
And they call for the three great stimulants
Of the exhausted ones
Artifice, brutality and innocence
Artifice and innocence
[Outro]
Oh these times, these times
Oh these changing times
Change in the heart of all mankind
Oh these troubled times