The Great European Department Store

Song	The Great European Department Store
Artist	Peter Hammill
Album	The Noise

	It's a triumph, material triumph,
	mass consumption and conformity.
	Down in hardware the shelves are stacked up
	with the latest line in luxury.
	The perfume counter has make-up ladies
	all immaculately make-believe;
	they sell you lifestyle package
	and you'd better buy
	because you're never going to leave.
	Nations of shoppers consume in a frenzy
	the security of branded names;
	they're fighting in the food hall
	for exotic vegetables and fruit, eco-friendly game.
	It doesn't matter which currency you use
	becasue they're all exactly the same.
	And it's all on offer, everything's on offer,
	multi-national door-to-door
	in the Great European Department Store.
	It's on offer, it's all on offer, you can pack it flat to take away:
	Scottish heather to Spanish leather,
	German turniip to Dutch weather-vane.
	If you've got the money the door's wide open,
	they are only here to pamper you.
	The ethnic art room has plundered several continents
	to decorate your living room.
	It doesn't matter which credit card you use
	or if you even sign your real name
	because they're all exactly the same.
	And it's all on offer, guaranteed natural, quality control assured
	in the Great European Department Store.
	Hey, let's shop; let's go!
	In the Great European Department Store…
	Ooh, the shopping's something shocking now;
	ooh, will the shopping never stop
	in the Great European Department Store?

	It' s a triumph, material triumph,
	mass consumption and conformity.
	Down in hardware the shelves are stacked up
	with the latest line in luxury.
	The perfume counter has makeup ladies
	all immaculately makebelieve
	they sell you lifestyle package
	and you' d better buy
	because you' re never going to leave.
	Nations of shoppers consume in a frenzy
	the security of branded names
	they' re fighting in the food hall
	for exotic vegetables and fruit, ecofriendly game.
	It doesn' t matter which currency you use
	becasue they' re all exactly the same.
	And it' s all on offer, everything' s on offer,
	multinational doortodoor
	in the Great European Department Store.
	It' s on offer, it' s all on offer, you can pack it flat to take away:
	Scottish heather to Spanish leather,
	German turniip to Dutch weathervane.
	If you' ve got the money the door' s wide open,
	they are only here to pamper you.
	The ethnic art room has plundered several continents
	to decorate your living room.
	It doesn' t matter which credit card you use
	or if you even sign your real name
	because they' re all exactly the same.
	And it' s all on offer, guaranteed natural, quality control assured
	in the Great European Department Store.
	Hey, let' s shop let' s go!
	In the Great European Department Store
	Ooh, the shopping' s something shocking now
	ooh, will the shopping never stop
	in the Great European Department Store?