Sent in by a visitor to Malta who left shocked by what she saw and heard.
Sell the country
I was a likely labour lad.
Not too good and not too bad.
Not too dim and not too smart.
Just the one to play the part.
In politics I made my way
Every dog must have his day
This is mine, I made my name
Learning how to play the game.
Climbing up the greasy pole
I got the job but lost my soul.
Once, I meant to do what’s right,
But soon gave up the moral fight
The boys around me taught me well
Who to buy and what to sell.
A passport here, a permit there
Doesn’t matter why or where.
Sell the country, sell the town
Greed goes up and history down
Build the block and build the tower
Symbols of our growing power
Pay the least amount of tax
Let the suckers pay the max
I’m all right Jo, doing well
All the rest can go to hell.
Then there are the bank accounts
All offshore with large amounts
Dummy this and numbered that
From Panama to Monserrat.
Chauffeured here and chauffeured there
How the people stop and stare
I like the fame, I like the power
Living in my ivory tower.
I bought the house, I bought the boat
I bought the villa on the Cote
Too late now to quit the game
I need the money, feel no shame
Corruption starts with greed and pride
Then spreads its poison far and wide
Accepting gifts and bribes, it’s easy
Not corrupt, just slightly sleazy.
Now something happened, nothing good
Angry people want my blood
Truth is dead, they march and shout
The party’s over, let me out
Things are rotten at the root
I’ll leave with all my lovely loot
Admit no guilt, take no blame
All I did was play the game.