Ca Ira: Opera in Three Acts: "And in the Bushes Where They Survive..." - Roger Waters

And in the bushes where they survive

The winder hail and the slaughter

The birds were attacked by the dogs and the rats

Hiding round every corner

When you’re a rat caught in a trap with not even cheese you get mean

But we are not rats

When you’re a rabid dog you need to spread your disease

But we are not dogs

When you’re a man and they say you should be an angel

We’re not even human

When you’re less than nothing

Less than nothing

Less than nothing as sure as the sparrows sing

If wishes give us power to make it all come right

If we could walk through mirrors

IF we could touch the light

We’d shrug off our illusions and what was left would be

Te strength and bravery

To feel what we feel

And be what we’d be…

Of all the woman none can hold a light to liberty

With wings to fly and eyes to see

She’s the one who loves us

The one that we adore

When you’re laughing with the sun out

Or lying wounded in a dug out

With wings to fly and eyes to see

Freedom is her name

She makes a fearsome ally

If you stand up with no shame

But liberty is nothing if you love her on your knees

And liberty can’t hear you when you’re hanging from an olive tree!

If we don’t founder in pursuit luxury

In forgetfulness of others needs

And in the depths of our own believes

If we don’t hide in that solitary dream

Safe in our shells

In respect for the powers that be

And in fear of our selves

If wishes could come true

If mirrors could be seen through

No more mystery

Only the strength and bravery

To help one another

To see what its like to be…

Happy!

No bird needs to be afraid

To leave his nest and to parade

Up and down the boulevard all day,

All day, all day!

No bird must be greedy

And eat up all the seed

'Til every bird has had enough,

Every bird

Be he rich or be he poor

Be he great or be he small

Every bird, every bird, every bird, every bird

Will go to the ball

If this life’s a journey we take

If the secret the sharing cake

Holds the key, holds the key to joy

And unlocks these doors inside

Where Republic must surely hide

If wishes really could come true

If we see through the illusions

And abide by the constitution

There’ll be human rights for everyone

Unique and universal

For everyone

Under the sun!

If we are not lost in these towers of ivory

In respect for the strong

And in fear of our need to belong

The promise of Republic lies within

Ça Ira

Ça Ira!