i m laying on the pavement and the last thing i recall picked up by the arms and legs and taken from the hall for squaring up to culture in the circle and the stall all because they re playing wagner at the opera all because they re playing wagner at the opera hurt can make you act without apology or regret over half a century but still i can t forget ideology makes a mockery of the string quartet all because they re playing wagner at the opera all because they re playing wagner at the opera when they came to take me i was standing on a chair i can t keep quiet i have something to declare listen to my rattle for my rattle says beware all because they re playing wagner at the opera all because they re playing wagner at the opera a rattle for remembering the rattle of the chains a rattle for remembering the rattle of the trains from warsaw down the decades to hell and home again all because they re playing wagner at the opera all because they re playing wagner at the opera for everyone we lost i swing the rattle loud and long i swing it til i drown out all the music and the songs this tattoo will last forever and my memory is long here s to no more playing wagner at the opera here s to no more playing wagner at the opera here s to no more playing wagner at the opera