[ti:Every Bloody Emperor] [ar:Van Der Graaf Generator] [al:Present] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]Every Bloody Emperor - Van Der Graaf Generator [00:19.08]Written by:P Hammill [00:38.16]By this we are all sustained [00:44.60]A belief in human nature [00:49.17]And in justice and parity [00:53.11]All we have is the faith to carry on [01:08.13]Imperceptible the change as [01:14.48]Our votes become mere gestures [01:18.41]And our lords and masters [01:21.37]Determine to cast us [01:24.06]In the roles of serfs and slaves [01:28.29]In the new empire's name [01:34.55]Yes and every bloody emperor [01:37.79]Claims that freedom is his cause [01:40.80]As he buffs up on his common touch as a get out clause [01:52.35]Unto nations nations speak [01:58.73]In the language of the gutter [02:03.16]Trading prime time insults the imperial impulse [02:08.94]Extends across the screen [02:15.58]Truth's been beaten to its knees [02:21.31]The lies embed ad infinitive [02:25.21]Till their repetition becomes a dictum [02:32.13]We're traitors to disbelieve [02:38.57]With what impotence we grieve [02:44.79]For the democratic process [02:49.14]As our glorious leaders conspire to feed us [02:54.55]The last dregs of imperious disdain [03:00.23]In the new empire's name [03:06.25]Yes and every bloody emperor's [03:09.20]Got his hands up history's skirt [03:11.93]As he poses for posterity over the fresh dug dirt [03:17.31]Yes and every bloody emperor [03:20.33]With his sickly rictus grin [03:23.15]Talks his way out of nearly [03:25.51]Anything but the lie within [03:28.46]Because every bloody emperor [03:31.65]Thinks his right to rule divine [03:34.25]So he'll go spinning and spinning [03:36.17]And spinning into his own decline [05:19.25]Imperceptible the change [05:25.08]As one by one our voices falter [05:29.96]And the double standards of propaganda [05:35.74]Still all our righteous rage [05:48.65]By this we are all sustained [05:55.37]Our belief in human nature [05:59.81]But our faith diminishes [06:03.92]Close to the finish [06:06.44]We're only serfs and slaves [06:10.78]As the empire decays