You've Been Bought
Sections:
Lyrics
So the suburbs were jungle
Did you mama make you eat it?
You were barely out of high school
When your daddy told you "beat it"
And repression was a buzzword
So you called yourself a victim
A victim of repression?
This court is now in session
With a growl and a guitar
You made yourself a name
But the fire left the grooves
When the first check came
You've been bought
Interests are conflicting
You've been bought
That chemical's addicting
You've been bought
What goes around comes around
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
You've been bought
Sold your bad reputation
For a deal in Tinseltown
Then the video rolls
Then the whip comes down
Did you slap around the ladies for the camera?
Do you slap them when the camera isn't there?
Those are lawyers telling you to look rebellious
Pulling strings when your fist goes in the air
This year's rock and roll messiah
Come to settle some old score
You can save that bad boy posturing
I've seen that sneer before
You've been bought
A real heavy sweater?
You've been bought
Elvis did it better
You've been bought
What goes around comes around
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
You've been bought
South African promoters call
And you wonder if you should
But ideals fall like dominoes
When the money looks good
We don't need another manufactured rebel
We don't want your twisted doctrines of despair
If your music's saying nothing
Save it for the dentist chair
You've been bought
Interests are conflicting
You've been bought
That chemical's addicting
You've been bought
What goes around comes around
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
You've been bought
You've been bought
You've been bought
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
You've been bought
Recorded Appearances
Albums
- On The Fritz (1985)
About The Song
From Clone Club News Flash Winter 1986, Winter 1986:
In the words of U2's Bono Hewson, "You could actually write a rulebook on how to behave as a rock'n'roll rebel." This song is for all those who followed the rules.
From Steve Taylor on Staring into the Sun: Squint or You'll Miss It, True Tunes News, Winter 1993:
Is there anything you wish you could go back and change?
There are some songs that I would like to erase from everyone's memory. [...] "You've Been Bought," had an ok lyric, but it was a lousy song.