Tool of the State

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

No uniform bait

Lunch break, we chilled where the quiet kids stayed
In the school library, out of the way
Then by the desk, on a stand one day
Army leaflets got put on display
We said, "That ain't right, not here, not cool
No army pitch in the middle of school"
So we took the whole stack and cleared the tray
But next day back, they'd restocked it the same way
I came with my old record bag open wide
James grabbed the lot and dropped them inside
We ran down the corridor, fast on the floor
Librarian shouting as he came through the door
"What's in your bag? Open it, let me see"
I said, "No," 'cause rules don't rule me
When I know I'm right, I don't bend, I don't wait
Slammed the door shut — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

No uniform bait

Soon we had stacks of the leaflets saved
All black and white like a warning page
Paperclip, pencil, bold on the face
But all we saw was: "tool of the state"
James had a plan in electronics class
Spread them out quick while the teacher walked past
Stapled them together till the big word stayed
PEACE in leaflets that the army made
Then we walked out together, sign held high
Down to the hall where the stage lights lie
Up to the balcony, taped it in place
Parents that night might've seen our case
Next day gone, just an empty space
No teacher stepped up, no serious face
No names, no blame, no after-school fate
Just silence in the hall — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Tool of the state
Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Lunch break, we chilled where the quiet kids stayed
In the school library, out of the way
Then by the desk, on a stand one day
Army leaflets got put on display
We said, "That ain't right, not here, not cool
No army pitch in the middle of school"
So we took the whole stack and cleared the tray
But next day back, they'd replaced the display
I came with my old record bag open wide
James grabbed the lot and dropped them inside
We ran down the corridor, fast on the floor
Librarian shouting as he came through the door
"What's in your bag? Open it, let me see"
I said, "No," 'cause rules don't rule me
When I know I'm right, I don't bend, I don't wait
Slammed the door shut — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform

Soon we had stacks of the leaflets saved
All black and white like a warning page
Paperclip, pencil, bold on the face
But all we saw was: "tool of the state"
James had a plan in electronics class
Spread them out quick while the teacher walked past
Stapled them together till the big word stayed
PEACE in leaflets that the army made
Then we walked out together, sign held high
Down to the hall where the stage lights lie
Up to the balcony, taped it in place
Parents that night might've seen our case
Next day gone, just an empty space
No teacher stepped up, no serious face
No names, no blame, no after-school fate
Just silence in the hall — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Lunch break, we chilled where the quiet kids stayed
In the school library, out of the way
Then by the desk, on a stand one day
Army leaflets got put on display

Lunch break, we chilled where the quiet kids stayed
In the school library, out of the way
Then by the desk, on a stand one day
Army leaflets got put on display
We said, "That ain't right, not here, not cool
No army pitch in the middle of school"
So we took the whole stack and cleared the tray
But next day back, they'd replaced the display
I came with my old record bag open wide
James grabbed the lot and dropped them inside
We ran down the corridor, fast on the floor
Librarian shouting as he came through the door
"What's in your bag? Open it, let me see"
I said, "No," 'cause rules don't rule me
When I know I'm right, I don't bend, I don't wait
Slammed the door shut — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Soon we had stacks of the leaflets saved
All black and white like a warning page
Paperclip, pencil, bold on the face
But all we saw was: "tool of the state"
James had a plan in electronics class
Spread them out quick while the teacher walked past
Stapled them together till the big word stayed
PEACE in leaflets that the army made
Then we walked out together, sign held high
Down to the hall where the stage lights lie
Up to the balcony, taped it in place
Parents that night might've seen our case
Next day gone, just an empty space
No teacher stepped up, no serious face
No names, no blame, no after-school fate
Just silence in the hall — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait

Soon we had stacks of the leaflets saved
All black and white like a warning page
Paperclip, pencil, bold on the face
But all we saw was: "tool of the state"
James had a plan in electronics class
Spread them out quick while the teacher walked past
Stapled them together till the big word stayed
PEACE in leaflets that the army made
Then we walked out together, sign held high
Down to the hall where the stage lights lie
Up to the balcony, taped it in place
Parents that night might've seen our case
Next day gone, just an empty space
No teacher stepped up, no serious face
No names, no blame, no afterschool fate
Just silence in the hall — tool of the state

Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
Don't bring that pitch to the schoolyard gate
Tool of the state, tool of the state
No boots, no suits, no uniform bait