[Verse 1: Terry Hall, Both]
Why must you record my phone calls?
Are you planning a bootleg LP?
You said you'd been threatened by gangsters
Now it's you that’s threatening me

[Chorus 1: Terry Hall, Lily Allen, Both]
Can't fight corruption with con tricks
They use the law to commit crime
And I dread, dread to think what the future'll bring
When we’re living in real gangster times

[Instrumental Bridge]

[Verse 2: Terry Hall, Lily Allen, Both]
Don't interrupt while I'm talking (Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Or they'll confiscate all your guitars
And Catch 22 says if I sing the truth (C'mon everybody, up and down!)
They won't make me an overnight star

[Outro: Terry Hall, Lily Allen, Both]
Don't offer us legal protection
They use the law to commit crime
I dread, dread to think what the future will bring
When we're living in real gangster times