Welcome to Shenzhen!
It's a city on wheels and it's racing away
79' may seem close but it's far gone today
Out of sight, out of touch from what people here knew
No need to stop and ask, 'cuz we all know it's true
And in this crazy place where the world spins so fast
I sit and I wonder, who's keeping track?
Of what's being lost in the wake of all gain
Where all the time goes as the pandas are slain
Come take a walk through this city of sound
NYC, concrete jungle, ha, we scoff at that town
This is the place, the new free, no offense
In the Wild Wild East, where the streets have no end
The rules come and go and so do the people
Some souls are worthy but others too feeble
This view is mine and it's all from one steeple
And my steeple is high in the slums of Dongmen
Where all come to die, the men, women and children
It's the end of the earth and it's coming so fast
That even darkness and evil and death won't last
Our sin is convulsing and growing right now
I can hear it at night when cats start to meow
They scream and they screech out my window all night
If light were to shine it would be quite the sight
Scratching and clawing and gasping for air
In this hot China steam that my lungs cannot bear
But what does this mean for us ladies and gents?
Who take all that's given and hide in our tents
Is my life so sad why should I pretend?
I waste my days laughing, jaunting with friends
Am I too daunting? Perspective to bleak?
What do I want? For what do I seek?
What the hell, Shenzhen, have you done to me?
You're twisting and churning and chewing me up
And spitting me out on the curb like a mutt
The people are racing straight through me and past
And on to modernity, capital class
So why should I sit while the rest all grab more?
As the old creeps in Shekou keep feeding the whores
I drink tea at Mix C and through Guomao I tread
I skate free thru Laojie while I'm losing my head
Men working all day and all night for a dime
While I sit in my castle, eat food, and drink wine
Give it to me, I want it all now
And I won't stop, no sir, 'til I've scorched all the ground
I'll siphon and drain it all straight to my pockets
Suck all electricity out of the sockets
Then I'll turn and I'll run with the grandest of glee
And you, my dear friends, won't even know it was me...
~
