This version of Industrial Disease was released by Dire Straits in 1982.
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Warning lights are flashing down at Quality Control
Somebody threw a spanner and they threw him in the hole
There’s rumors in the loading bay and anger in the town
Somebody blew the whistle and the walls came down
There’s a meeting in the boardroom they’re trying to trace the smell
There’s leaking in the washroom there’s a sneak in personnel
Somewhere in the corridors someone was heard to sneeze
‘goodness me could this be Industrial Disease?
The caretaker was crucified for sleeping at his post
They’re refusing to be pacified it’s him they blame the most
The watchdog’s got rabies the foreman’s got fleas
And everyone’s concerned about Industrial Disease
There’s panic on the switchboard tongues are ties in knots
Some come out in sympathy some come out in spots
Some blame the management some the employees
And everybody knows it’s the Industrial Disease
The work force is disgusted downs tools and walks
Innocence is injured experience just talks
Everyone seeks damages and everyone agrees
That these are ‘classic symptoms of a monetary squeeze’
On ITV and BBC they talk about the curse
Philosophy is useless theology is worse
History boils over there’s an economics freeze
Sociologists invent words that mean ‘Industrial Disease’
Doctor Parkinson declared ‘I’m not surprised to see you here
You’ve got smokers cough from smoking, brewer’s droop from drinking beer
I don’t know how you came to get the Betty Davis knees
But worst of all young man you’ve got Industrial Disease’
He wrote me a prescription he said ‘you are depressed
But I’m glad you came to see me to get this off your chest
Come back and see me later – next patient please
Send in another victim of Industrial Disease’
I go down to Speaker’s Corner I’m thunderstruck
They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks
Two men say they’re Jesus one of them must be wrong
There’s a protest singer singing a protest song – he says
‘they wanna have a war to keep us on our knees
They wanna have a war to keep their factories
They wanna have a war to stop us buying Japanese
They wanna have a war to stop Industrial Disease
They’re pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind
They wanna sap your energy incarcerate your mind
They give you Rule Brittania, gassy beer, page three
Two weeks in Espana and Sunday striptease’
Meanwhile the first Jesus says ‘I’d cure it soon
Abolish monday mornings and friday afternoons’
The other one’s on a hunger strike he’s dying by degrees
How come Jesus gets Industrial Disease
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If you're a fan of 1980s music looking for more songs from 1982 or the 1980s overall, you've come to the right place!
More Songs & Lyrics by Dire Straits
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- In The Gallery (1978)
- Lions (1978)
- Setting Me Up (1978)
- Six Blade Knife (1978)
- Southbound Again (1978)
- Sultans Of Swing (1978)
- Water Of Love (1978)
- Wild West End (1978)
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- Angel Of Mercy (1979)
- Communique (1979)
- Follow Me Home (1979)
- Lady Writer (1979)
- News (1979)
- Once Upon A Time In The West (1979)
- Portobello Belle (1979)
- Single Handed Sailor (1979)
- Where Do You Think You’re Going? (1979)
- Expresso Love (1980)
- Hand In Hand (1980)
- Les Boys (1980)
- Romeo And Juliet (1980)
- Skateaway (1980)
- Solid Rock (1980)
- Tunnel Of Love (1980)
- It Never Rains (1982)
- Love Over Gold (1982)
- Private Investigations (1982)
- Telegraph Road (1982)
- Badges, Posters, Stickers, T-Shirts (1983)
- If I Had You (1983)
- Twisting By The Pool (1983)
- Two Young Lovers (1983)
- Brothers In Arms (1985)
- Money For Nothing (1985)
- One World (1985)
- Ride Across The River (1985)
- So Far Away (1985)
- The Man’s Too Strong (1985)
- Walk Of Life (1985)
- Why Worry (1985)
- Your Latest Trick (1985)
- Calling Elvis (1991)
- Fade To Black (1991)
- Heavy Fuel (1991)
- How Long (1991)
- Iron Hand (1991)
- My Parties (1991)
- On Every Street (1991)
- The Bug (1991)
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