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The Invisible Hand

by The Comrades

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1.
Tower of Babble 02:37
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"Hello. How are you? What do you do?" I feel like shit and I exist. Are you interested in what I have to say? Or are you just a parrot pointlessly cackling away? Do you really want to know the answer? Do you really want to know the answer? Do you really want to know the answer? Language stripped of any real meaning Conversation reduced to empty sloganeering Bricks in the tower of babble so imposing A monument to our lack of understanding Do you really want to know the answer? Do you really want to know the answer? Do you really want to know the answer? Flawlessly reciting the script Words ring hollow Will you remember what I said tomorrow? Will you remember what I said tomorrow? No! Innuendo and doublespeak leave substance far behind Deciphering your words is just a waste of time Since when is communication such a crime? An open mouth and a vacuous, vacant mind
2.
It's Time 02:37
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You say you love this country wrong or right Blind loyalty ot robs you of your sight Uncle sam doesn't care whether you live or die Money for defense while the hungry children cry It's time to reconsider the myths you hold as true It's time to re-evaluate what you deem sacred too Strangled by the swaddling banner you salute Enslaved by the free market economic brute Lay down your life for it, I don't understand You're pummeled to the ground by the invisible hand Screwed by the very same system you embrace Do you really like being kept down in your place? It's time to reconsider the myths you hold as true It's time to re-evaluate what you deem sacred too Strangled by the swaddling banner you salute Enslaved by the free market economic brute Living hand to mouth is the thanks that you get For being a faithful and obedient pet Shed the shakles of wage slavery Only then will we truly be free It's time to reconsider the myths you hold as true It's time to re-evaluate what you deem sacred too Strangled by the swaddling banner you salute Enslaved by the free market economic brute
3.
A Plastic Jesus 01:52
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Come hear my word, now will you follow? You're sick of life, your soul so hollow Lies fill the void, you ask no questions Picked clean, you don't detect deception A gullible flock that's led astray Unwavering faith will be betrayed A song is sung for all to hear Corruption masked with holy fear Prey upon your every vulnerability Comfort for your perceived fragility Worship on the altar of my pride and greed Kept in a state of constant dependency Come and take me by the hand Salt that rises above the falling sand Take the bait that keeps me in control Fortune built on the backs of wandering souls A plastic Jesus with the will to seize us In the grip of his power sweet bliss turns sour 144,000 souls in need 144,000 souls will bleed 144,000 souls will cry 144,000 God damn lies
4.
Putty In Their Hands 02:37
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Patriotic, idiotic, anachronistic warped ideals Full of pride, God's on your side, how comfortable it makes you feel Manipulated, miseducated, immersed in false superiority Placing blame, such a shame you can't confront inferiority Resenting others 'cause they're different from you Buy into myths from those who prey on hatred Subvert your mind to feed your need for power Putty in their hands Military, reactionary, goose-stepping to the twisted tune Suicide is glorified, misguided "martyrs" who have died too soon Theorist or terrorist? With words as weapons someone else will die Homicide justified by racist propaganda lies Resenting others 'cause they're different from you Buy into myths from those who prey on hatred Subvert your mind to feed your need for power Putty in their hands I wish there was a reason There has to be a reason Resenting others 'cause they're different from you Buy into myths from those who prey on hatred Subvert your mind to feed your need for power Putty in their hands
5.
Passing You By 01:54
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The talk show demigogues, the television Usurp our power with class division The simple answers, the complex problems No confrontation, preserving the system Sit back as the truth passes you by Sit back as the truth passes you by Don't bother to find out its a lie Sit back as the truth passes you by Just trust the pundits, don't bother thinking An empty sponge, intellect is sinking Can't soil your clean hands with dirty digging Odious agenda - blame the victim Sit back as the truth passes you by Sit back as the truth passes you by Don't bother to find out its a lie Sit back as the truth passes you by Their hate becomes your glee But is that what you really see, Or a comfortable fit for warped reality? Posturing, snivling, shouting What you already want to believe Led by the nose, bamboozled and deceived Sit back as the truth passes you by Sit back as the truth passes you by Don't bother to find out its a lie Sit back as the truth passes you by
6.
Square Peg 02:29
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I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it As time goes by, most square pegs are slowly whittled down To fit the black hole of complacency and facelessness Square pegs stand their ground while round ones simply roll along Keep your whittling knife away from my square corners I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it So happy to follow just like lemmings to the sea But at least you're not alone They've taken my body, but they'll never take my mind Acceptance of their regimented codes I'll never find You've made your decision, now you have to live with it But don't drag me into that worthless, murky sea of shit I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it I won't grow into it, I won't buy into it I have no use for it, I want no part of it
7.
Blind Leading the Blind 01:55
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Full of mindless macho energy Craving power and identity Deceived by promises of glory Signed away to the powers that be Purged of your emotions and feelings to become their killing tool Don't question, don't think, just act, be prepared to follow their rule American intervention in the name of freedom and democracy The hypocrisy doesn't phase you, you're simply cargo to be shipped overseas Storm the front at their beck and call Knee-jerk obedience leaves no time to stall They got you corner up against the wall No one really cares when it's your turn to fall Caught in the crossfire of opposing ideologies Expendable pawn's life snuffed out in the scene that no one sees Another broken hero lies on top of the corpse heap Another family grieves while our blind leaders softly sleep Precious blood is spilled for their worthless cause Condemned to a violent death by authority without pause No honor to kill or die in the name of your country Cannon fodder for the war machine is the tragic reality It's the blind leading the blind leading the blind leading the blind It's the blind leading the blind leading the blind leading the blind It's the blind leading the blind leading the blind leading the blind It's the blind leading the blind leading the blind leading the blind
8.
Last Laugh 01:58
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Doubted from day one, declared "not able" The time has come to turn the table Have no faith in me, nor I in you Though barriers surround me, I'll crash through One of these days I'm gonna be somebody One of these days I'm gonna be important One of these days I'm gonna make a difference I'll have the last laugh on you Yes, I'll have the last laugh on you Didn't measure up to your standard of success Doesn't make what I do worth any less Dismiss my ideas as pie in the sky It sure beats the hell out of living a lie One of these days I'm gonna be somebody One of these days I'm gonna be important One of these days I'm gonna make a difference I'll have the last laugh on you Yes, I'll have the last laugh on you Haunted by echoing ridicules past But your cocky self-assuredness didn't last A cog in the machine, you found your place You snickering boomerangs back in your face One of these days I'm gonna be somebody One of these days I'm gonna be important One of these days I'm gonna make a difference I'll have the last laugh on you Yes, I'll have the last laugh on you I'll have the last laugh on you I'll have the last laugh on you, ha ha ha ha!
9.
All In All 01:54
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As a boy I thought I could change the world Right the wrong, grow big and strong But the years have passed, the visions have passed Thoughts have changed, priorities rearranged All in all, I thought I could change the world All in all, won't forget what I have learned All in all, another page has turned All in all In my life I have overcame Many obstacles that stood in my way Leaned to progress this far in life Life's ups and downs, many years of strife All in all, dealt with the decisions I made All in all, walked down the paths I laid All in all, wouldn't want it no other way All in all The roads wind up and down where we once drove Life seemed so simple then, there was always hope Parental dependency, nothing there to show Life's bittersweet memories, no tinge of afterglow I changed myself to make others happy Many years of bliss, it wasn't me Couldn't shake the label "nice guy" as you can see Is there such a thing as inner harmony? All in all, saw no silver lining, no brass ring All in all, velcro memories that wouldn't cling All in all, no golden halo or pair of wings All in all
10.
Familiar Strangers 02:40
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Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors Surrounded every day by familiar strangers Convince yourself that nothing's wrong You just sit back and play along Oblivious to capitalist alienation, human segregation How mush do you really know about me? How can you say that we're so free? Defined by occupation, position-my definition Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors Surrounded every day by familiar strangers Friendship means nothing in this world A man or woman, boy or girl It's just a game we all like to play as we're cast away We've known each other for so long You think that coldness makes you strong Prepare yourself for a lonely existence, with no assistance Oh yeah, we trade companionship for wads of paper Taught to shut out our friends, ignore our neighbors Surrounded every day by familiar strangers We're all strangers living near We're all strangers stung by fear We're all strangers with no cheer Oh, yeah!
11.
Free Trade 01:25
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All those corporate leaders shouting "buy american" Patriotic slogans try to hide their real plan Don't let them fool you when they scream and holler Their only loyalty is to the almighty dollar They don't give a shit when you're out on the street Another lowly insect crushed under their feet Before you look for other countries to blame Realize you're a victim of the american capitalist game They want to get you riled up against the japanese Then they close down your plant and ship it overseas Or cheaper labor costs in mexico Who's fault is that? I think you already know They don't give a shit when you're out on the street Another lowly insect crushed under their feet Before you look for other countries to blame Realize you're a victim of the american capitalist game lax environmental standards across the Rio Grande American corporations pollute and rape their land Greedy motherfuckers who have no regard for life Have the nerve to blame consumers for our economic strife They don't give a shit when you're out on the street Another lowly insect crushed under their feet Before you look for other countries to blame Realize you're a victim of the american capitalist game
12.
Your Teenage Years are Gone 02:51
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Indecisiveness, such a childish act Always pushing me to get your act straight It's many years past sixteen, it's time for you to grow up Before it's too late Something out there more, you think Your mind begins wandering Time to realize there's no Gold at the end of life's rainbow Your teenage years are gone Immature thinking can't go on You're not another sheep to follow the flock Be original, think of what you want Your teenage years are gone Your middle twenties had a lot to do with your friends' influence The clothes you wore and what they thought of you You always had to be part of the crowd To drink, party and get real loud Now you've come to the split in the road Don't know which way you want to go Which ever path you might undertake Might leave you thinking you've made a big mistake Your teenage years are gone Youth can only last so long It's tmie to grow up, time to get your act straight Try to make the right choice, don't procrastinate Your teenage years are gone To figure out this mystery I'd be a sleuth I'm tired of this bullshit to tell you the truth Childish thinking leaves me aloof In conclusion, you've outlived youth Your teenage years are gone Immature thinking can't go on You're not another sheep to follow the flock Be original, think of what you want Your teenage years are gone
13.
Please Sign Us 01:57
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Hey, Mister record company Please sign us, we're ready to sell out That's what it's all about, oh yeah Please sign us, wer'e ready to sell out We wanna be part of the corporate rock machine Sold like another can of beans To be on MTV and make a lot of money Hey, Mister record company Please sign us, we're ready to sell out That's what it's all about, oh yeah Please sign us, wer'e ready to sell out We don't care what we play or what we say Intergity don't matter anyway As long as it sells, and the cash registers are ringing their bells We don't care about substance or meaning (No) Market the image, concentrate on what they're seeing (Yes) We don't care about substance or meaning (No) That shit just dosen't rake in profits Hey, Mister record company Please sign us, we're ready to sell out That's what it's all about, oh yeah Please sign us, we're ready to sell out We wanna be big rock stars and drive fancy cars And have big swimming pools We don't care if we're fools as long as the trendy kids think we're cool Part of the big corporate rock machine Part of the big corporate rock machine Part of the big corporate rock machine Part of the big corporate rock machine

about

The Invisible Hand was originally released in 1996 but later re-recorded in 1997. Randy was gone by that time, and this album marked a transition from the Gaston/Williams songwriting to Jimmy and Greg developing more of their own talents. This album is for many fans the favorite album (so far...). Compared to the earlier material, this album is very focused and catchy, while still sounding innovative. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and songs from The Invisible Hand were some of the most requested ones at our live shows.

credits

released May 1, 1997

Lineup: Jimmy Williams: Vocals/Rhythm Guitar; Greg Matwijizsyn: Bass; Mike Random: Drums; Tim Lastfogel: Lead Guitar; Ed Grande: Drums on Please Sign Us.
Most of this recording was done in 1996/1997 in the studios of the late John Troy at Sound Tracks studio in Clifton NJ. Some songs were recorded in 1995 at NYU by Paul Geluso.

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The Comrades Clifton, New Jersey

Formed 1983 in Clifton NJ, regrouped in early 1990s. Punk/Post-Punk writing and recording project that occasionally plays live. Some like our creations, and some don’t. Makes no difference to us. We will be re-releasing the rest of the back catalog eventually. ... more

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