The National Health - Maxïmo Park, Waylayers

England is ill and it is not alone

I heard it through the tinny speakers on a cameraphone

The things you hear and the things you see

Are amplified into a ca-ca-cacophony

The lost identity in my dream before

I ride the local train, I’m not above the law

Serendipity puts away with me

Houdini couldn’t escape from me

I wouldn’t bet my life (He wouldn’t bet his life)

Maybe things will change tomorrow

I wouldn’t bet my life (You would be mad to try)

Maybe things will change tomorrow

The daily grind, the moral wealth

A portrait of the national health

England is sick and I’m a casualty

I’m in a constant state of flux in terms of what to be

We generalise and we live inside

I feel we’re heading for a ca-ca-catastrophe

The lost identity in my dream before

I ride the local train, I’m not above the law

Serendipity took ahold of me

Fellini couldn’t have dreamt of this

I wouldn’t bet my life (He wouldn’t bet his life)

Maybe things will change tomorrow

I wouldn’t bet my life (You would be mad to try)

Maybe things will change tomorrow

The daily grind, the moral wealth

The family binds by means of stealth

A portrait of the national health

Did you hear?

(You what?)

I went down to the council today (What did they say?)

They sent me away (No way!)

My word holds no sway (Who's to blame?)

You are… (Oh yeah?)

I guess I couldn’t be tamed

The daily grind, the moral wealth

The family binds by means of stealth

A portrait of the national health!