It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment
So he walks over and he's trying
To sympathize with her but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner
In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr. Robert Oppenheimer's optimism fell
At the first hurdle
In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame filled minutes of the fanzine writer
Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
I offer him embarrassment and my usual excuses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where the van is waiting
I'm looking for the great leap forwards
Jumble sales are organized
And pamphlets have been posted
Even after closing time there's still parties to be hosted
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the sleepers
While you're waiting for the great leap forwards
One leap forward, two leaps back
Will politics get me the sack?
Here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a blacklist I want to be on it
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole
If no one seems to understand
Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman
In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room
So join the struggle while you may
The revolution is just a tee shirt away
Waiting for the great leap forwards



Lyrics submitted by Madame Me

Track duration: 04:36

"Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards" as written by Billy Bragg

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS STANDARDS, INC.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • -1
    Link(s):This was really a heart touching one.

    socialwoot.com/brands/…">disney social media moms celebration
    Flagged darrekbreckanon May 30, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The updated version from an appearance on the Henry Rollins Show.

    youtube.com/…

    This appearance is bare bones - Mr Bragg just with his guitar. Kinda reminded me of the first Billy Bragg song I ever saw - the 80's video for Levi Stubb's Tears which will always hold a soft spot in my heart.
    Flag nishtimon February 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A political song that is so well written that Billy can literally make it span across time just by tweaking a few lines here and there. Even without the changes the song is still very relevent today. "Mixing Pop and Politics, they ask me what the use is." Such a great line because people generally assume knowledge of pop culture denotes a somewhat 'ignorance' in serious matters such as the politics of the world. (IE the American TV culture)...however Billy Bragg shows that the two things are not so different..and that the understanding and caring about these issues is in the hearts and minds of each and every person who cares to look.
    Flag manicmarkuson December 13, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:A great call to arms to lefties, don't just get angry at home, voice your opinions and do something to change things. This is a song of great frustration of current polical system and optimism of a better world and political structure. The masses have the fascists outnumbered and we can do things to improve the world "You can be active with the activists or sleep in with the sleepers!"
    Flag bradleyoon October 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Those are among the lyrics Billy has sung for this song. He often replaces "Che Guevara Highway" and especially "Fidel Castro's brother" with a variety of different things depending on where he's playing and what's going on in the news. He also substitutes the "[former] soviet union] line sometimes.
    Flag sunshipballoonson September 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The missing lyrics you couldnt work out are as follows

    It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jaqueline
    But on the Hugo Chavez highway filling up with gasoline
    Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying
    Over luxury's disappointment
    So he walks over and he's trying
    To sympathize with her
    But he thinks that he should warn her
    To prepare to be bombed back into the Stone Age

    In the former Soviet Union the citizens' demand
    To know why they're still the target
    Of Strategic Air Command
    And they shake their fists in anger
    And respectfully suggest
    That we take the money from our missiles and
    Spend it on our hospitals instead

    The Cold War now is over
    But the stakes are getting higher
    I'm frightened of collateral damage and of friendly fire
    And I don't believe we can defeat no Axis of Evil
    By putting smart bombs in the hands of dumb people

    Mixing pop and politics, they ask me what the use is
    I offer up my acupuncturist, my masseuses
    While looking down the corridor
    Out to where my ego is waiting
    I'm looking for the New World Order

    Jumble sales are organized
    All my mates got back
    Even after all this time you can still send me a fax
    You can be active with the activists or
    Sleep in with the (MEDIA)
    I'm waiting for the great leap forwards

    One leap forwards, two leaps back
    Will YouTube give MTV the sack?
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    Well, here comes the future and you can't run from it
    If you've got a (TATTOO HENRY) I wanna be on it, mate
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune but
    This is reality, not American Idol
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    So join the struggle while you may
    The revolution is just an ethical haircut away (WHILE YOUR)
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    There is another version somewhere on youtube, cant find it right now which has the line

    'If you got a MySpace I wanna be on it'

    in place of

    'If you've got a (TATTOO HENRY) I wanna be on it, mate'
    Flag fez_1985on May 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I saw him play it on the Henry Rollins show, and these were the updated lyrics he was using. There are a few parts that I can't tell what he's saying:

    It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jaqueline
    But on the Hugo Chavez highway filling up with gasoline
    Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying
    Over luxury's disappointment
    So he walks over and he's trying
    To sympathize with her
    But he thinks that he should warn her
    To prepare to be bombed back into the Stone Age

    In the former Soviet Union the citizens' demand
    To know why they're still the target
    Of Strategic Air Command
    And they shake their fists in anger
    And respectfully suggest
    That we take the money from our missiles and
    Spend it on our hospitals instead

    The Cold War now is over
    But the stakes are getting higher
    I'm frightened of collateral damage and of friendly fire
    And I don't believe we can defeat no Axis of Evil
    By putting smart bombs in the hands of dumb people

    Mixing pop and politics, they ask me what the use is
    I offer up my acupuncturist, my masseuses
    While looking down the corridor
    Out to where my ego is waiting
    I'm looking for the New World Order

    Jumble sales are organized
    All my mates got back
    Even after all this time you can still send me a fax
    You can be active with the activists or
    Sleep in with the (????)
    I'm waiting for the great leap forwards

    One leap forwards, two leaps back
    Will YouTube give MTV the sack?
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    Well, here comes the future and you can't run from it
    If you've got a (????) I wanna be on it, mate
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune but
    This is reality, not American Idol
    Waiting for the great leap forwards

    So join the struggle while you may
    The revolution is just an ethical haircut away (???)
    Waiting for the great leap forwards
    Flag Tommy Pakkoon March 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:anyone got the updated lyrics?
    Flag mechpope13on November 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:You are probably listening to the updated version of the song. Billy Bragg just updated it to be more current.
    Flag jdevils3on November 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:either these lyrics are wrong or my veirsion of the song is wrong, which is it?
    Flag Peppermelonon November 08, 2007   Link

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