[Verse 1]
Well I'm not cool enough for Camden
I guess by now that's clear
And I'm not folk enough for Whitby
'Cause I can never grow a beard
And I could be sad enough for country
But I'm no good at being drunk
I tried to be a protest singer
And found out I'm too middle-class for punk

[Chorus]
But oh mama, I'm a
Revolutionary in the wrong time
And the world ain't changing for me
I heard a rumour there was power in a union
And that was yesterday
Now I'm just a pop singer without the looks
An activist without the books
And when my faith fell short
I tried selling out
But nobody bought
But nobody bought

[Verse 2]
Well I'm not cool enough for Ireland
I guess I'll never be
And I'm not rock enough for Rough Trade
And baby that's just fine by me
And I could be cross enough for stand-up
But I've no timing for a joke
I guess one day I'll just accept I'll
Never get on Cambridge folk
[Chorus]
But oh mama, I'm a
Revolutionary in the wrong time
And the world ain't changing for me
I heard a rumour there was power in a union
But that was yesterday
Now I'm just a pop singer without the looks
Who never understood the books
On neo-Marxist thought
I tried selling out
But nobody bought
But nobody bought

[Chorus]
Oh mama I'm a
Revolutionary in the wrong time
And the world ain't changing tonight
I heard a rumour there was power in a union
And that used to be right
When I never understood the books
I'd sooner try and write the hooks
That's when you know you ought
To try selling out
But nobody bought
But nobody bought
But nobody bought
Oh, nobody bought