Somebody told me "don't brainwash the child"
I've got to admit that I stole a quick smile
Because no one's in a vacuum, no one is free
We've gotta teach them something, show them some way to be

'Cause we're under the influence, under the influence
You can try to deny it and call it a lie
But we're under the influence, under the influence
Under the influence of somebody all of the time

Ayatollah Khomeini and I told you that
But if you follow heroes they're gonna leave you flat
Analyse their motives, be careful what they say
Even Mohammed Ali has only feet of clay

'Cos we're under the influence, under the influence
You can try to deny it and call it a lie
But we're under the influence, under the influence
Under the influence of somebody all of the time

You can choose who leads you forward
Choose who leads you back
You can choose to follow feelings
Choose to follow fact
You can choose the open highway
Or choose the narrow track
You can sing "I did it my way"
You can say "I'm all right Jack"
'Cause we're under the influence, under the influence
You can try to deny it and call it a lie
But we're under the influence, under the influence
Under the influence of somebody all of the time

Karl Marx and Harpo were singing in the dark
Freud tried to harmonize, he was wide of the mark
Voices swelled the chorus, said we're here by chance
A twentieth-century symphony, a nightmare of a dance

But we're under the influence, under the influence
You can try to deny it and call it a lie
But we're under the influence, under the influence
Under the influence of somebody all of the time
Yes we're under the influence of somebody all of the time