Order 1081 - Natalie Merchant

A bomb went off this morning raining bodies on TV

They are blaming the insurgents, they are blocking off the streets

And the smoke is rising slowly, from the barrel of a gun

The solution to disruption Order 1081

Now the sunsets are incredible across Manila Bay

You can hear the bombers landing at the U.S. Air Force base

And somewhere in the distance, out beyond the setting sun

They will sign a proclamation Order 1081

Now we live down by the water in a shack that’s made of wood

And the bankers need to huddle so they need some extra room

We will find us somewhere better, there’s enough for everyone

Got a perfect explanation Order 1081

I thought I ordered coffee but they gave me 7Up

Got to clear away these shanties and these ugly nipa huts

So the seeds of our great future, they can grow here when we’re done

And it’s clearly all because of Order 1081

For thirty days the rain fell, we were nearly washed away

The radio fell silent, nothing left to do but pray

And the senator he told us the guerrillas are on the run

And the reason they are hiding?

Order 1081

They are planting plastic flowers on the seaside esplanade

The Pope is speaking Spanish but we can’t hear what he says

Got to stop all this confusion, got to wipe away this scum

And the way to make it happen Order 1081

It’s amazing that the soldiers somehow all know how to dance

It’s amazing how the soldiers keep the creases in their pants

Now it’s safe to walk the streets at night a new world has begun

Ev’rybody’s sleeping soundly thanks to 1081