Relief

You can't make mother cry You can't make her twist her ragged hair You can't make mother groan Even when her soldier sonny Shakes his iron cocktail in the air... You can't make mother cry You can't make her give consent Though she flounders at the drainboard Though her back be down there and bent If sleeping brings relief She can go lie down and slumber If sleeping brings relief She can go lie down and slumber If sleeping brings relief She can go... lie down and slumber... Slumber She puts her hands down into the sink Scrapes the grunge up off the bottom Down there beneath the dishes Where the knives lie crossed and waiting She can't stop the kiddies talking Their tongues be loosed upon the world They flap until they lather For the agony of millions And if sleeping brings relief They can go lie down and slumber And if sleeping brings relief They can go lie down and slumber And if sleeping brings relief They can... go lie down and slumber Slumber... And there be no release from anguish For this slapstick generation And there be no peace for all the kiddies Cause they're too satisfied to care And the field of gorgeous bodies Primed and ready in the sun And the white flag of peace That is hanging Limp and useless in the air... And the white flag of peace That is hanging Limp and useless in the air, yeah! And if sleeping brings relief You can all go lie down and slumber And if sleeping brings relief You can go lie down and slumber... Slumber...