Hatred in the hearts of the young population Riots in the streets of the "civilised" nation Was it the poverty? Was it the police? No - it's the British disease The inbred snobbery The patriot law Violence and robbery The state declares war The youth of today with a broken voice Have got something to say - they ain't got a choice Racist police - backed by the state Wipe out the ghetto and build up the hate All the wrong answers All the wrong ideas The riot lasts a day But the problem lasts for years The great British public they can't understand
Why should there be riots in this civilised land? Why is the country being pulled to its knees? Ignorance is the British disease Ignorance is the British disease Ignorance is the British disease Ignorance is your disease Ignorance and apathy Ignorance and bigotry You found it all so easy to ignore the people who complained and let their anger rise in flames You thought this country was so great that nobody could ever hate the way the system treated them And then you wondered why they burnt your buildings down