Way back there an explosion of hope

Hit out hard in a furnace of steel

I thought life was a fire

I thought life was a high time

(I thought life was a fire)

I thought life was a symbol

(I thought life was for livin)

I thought life was for livin

(I thought life was a symbol)

I thought life was a fire



There's an institute in Chicago

With a room full of machines

And they live this side of the sunrise

And burn away your dreams

Once you fly to Chicago - In Chicago you will die

When that institute in Chicago has recorded you and I



There's an empty house in California

But they'll always let you in

And they'll make you feel oh so easy

Like you never learned to sin

Oh yeah that's how they made it how they made it seem so clean

Yes that empty house in California is our brave new world's machine



At the institute in Chicago from the first day you were born

Oh they just can't tell what your feelin'

And they can't see how you're torn

When your name's just a number - just a number you will die

Cos that institute in Chicago never knew you were alive



Way back there a reflection of me

Turned my head in a circle of time

I thought life was for (livin)

I thought life was a (high time)

I thought life was a (fire)

I thought life was a (symbol)