Third World Lyrics: Henry Biggs Music: Henry Biggs and Mylene Farmer o check this story I'm about to lay down I'm talking about your hometown they tell you America's got it so good but they ain't talking about your neighborhood but I know the word and it goes something like thisss...   broken down buildings and back streets for bathrooms choking to death on another sweaty afternoon scheming and dreaming praying for a way out but your town clown is just a hole they forgot about day after gray day with no help and no hope sick of your poverty but there ain't no antidote doping to cope but knowing you won't make it far and quittin' ain't with it cuz the boys they got radar on the alert to avert your early burial the street makes your heartbeat pump out in stereo you ask me yo what's the home of this freak show it's a day in America welcome to the front row REFRAIN haven't you heard, haven't you heard, haven't you heard we're living in the third world (x2) Stick smack shoot yourself to sleep try to take yourself out cuz you're in too deep feels fine for a while but the fun fades away and you come back crashed to a cancerous new day dreams down the drain thoughts out of focus the rich man's witchcraft does its hocus pocus can't concentrate clearly can't hear me just need food to feed your poor family stomach's screaming no time for dreaming family to feed that ain't got no place to live in sounds like a story from the heart of hungry Africa but no homeboy it's from the broken heart of America REFRAIN you know you do what you can to put food on the table you work on the corner though you know it might be fatal senses and defenses sharper than a razor's edge eyes like a hawk you walk in the darkness poised at every noise always on the ready work is now full time no escape no remedy night and day you got your blade and gage ready to smoke anybody on a rampage and hope is just a glimmer growing ever dimmer of busting this ghetto noise and coming up a winner cuz crime ain't sometimes it's always and forever a lifetime choke hold you can never sever and yo what's the birthplace of this sad scenario it's the land of the free homey you're living in the capital REFRAIN something comes up that you was just waiting on back seat bullets in the belly and a pipe bomb sirens screaming but no one's seen a thing patrol car looks and keeps on going and in pain you wait at your corner wait for your boys to come they ain't gonna alone you groan your way to the hospital but you got no ID and the place is too full and so you die with dreams as your memories of movie scenes with your own happy family living it up drinking from a gold cup but that door boy's just about to close shut slam boy this story's over read your book from cover to cover dead and gone just one of many that never got a chance in the land of plenty REFRAIN x 5

The Idea. . . Then the great-hearted king unclasped from his throat A collar of gold, and gave to his thane; Gave the young hero his gold-decked helmet, His ring and his byrny, and wished him well. 'You are the last of the Waegmunding line. All my kinsmen, earls in their glory, Fate has sent to their final doom, And I must follow.' These words were the last The old king spoke ere the pyre received him, The leaping flames of the funeral blaze, And his breath went forth from his bosom, his soul Went forth from the flesh, to the joys of the just.  -Beowulf, lines 2809-2820 trans. by Charles Kennedy Explanation: Beowulf was a champion of alliterative verse, using alliteration to link his lines together. In "Third World" Headmess uses this same style, using both internal rhyme and alliteration. Look especially in the second verse for this style. Confused? Click here to send in your questions.