Gb   D
Gb   D
Gb   D  D D
Bb C F Bb
Bb C D D


[Verse 1]
                  Bb                        C
The great British mistake was looking for a way out,
                F                        Bb
Was getting complacent, not noticing the pulse was racing.
        Bb                   C                       D
The mistake was fighting the change, was staying the same.


[Verse 2]
              Bb                     C
It couldn't adapt so it couldn't survive.,
                 F
Something had to give.
                  Bb                      Bb
The people take a downhill slide into the gloom.
         C                D
Into the dark recesses of their minds.


[Interlude]
Gb   D
Gb   D
Gb   D  D D
Am   Bm 
Am   Bm 
Am                            
  I swoop over your city like a bird.
Bm                                 
  I climb the high branches and observe.
Am                         
  Into the mouth, into the soul.
Bm                                  
  I cast a shadow that swallows you whole.
Am           Bm    
  I swoop, I climb,
Am       
 I cling,
Bm                              C  Bb A
   I suck, I swallow you whole.


[Verse 3]
F              Bb                              C
String out the drip-feed, they're losing their world,
                     F                      Bb
They're losing their hard boys and magazine girls.
       Bb               C                 D
Advert illegal, T.V. as outlaw, motive as spell.


[Verse 4]
                      Bb                   C
They'll see the books burn. They'll be 4-5-1.
                    F                           Bb
It's people against things and not against each other.
           Bb                 C               D
Out of the pre-pack, into the fear, into themselves.


[Verse 5]
                             Bb
They're the great British mistake.
                       C                       F
The genie's out of the bottle, call in the magician.
                    Bb
They didn't mean to free him, devil behind them,
Bb           C                              D
devil in the mirror, chained to their right hands.


[Verse 6]
                              Bb
They're the great British mistake.
                        C                              F
They'll have to come to terms now, they'll take it out somehow.
                        Bb
They'll blame it all on something.
            Bb                        C
The British mistake - when will it be over?
                D
How can they avoid it, avoid it, avoid it?


[Outro]
Gb   D
Gb   D
Gb   Db
D                       G
   The great British mistake
D                       G
   The great British mistake
D                       G
   The great British mistake
D                       G
   The great British mistake

D    G
(repeat to fade with guitar lead)