Too many cops
em = By John Tomlinson
There are too many cops here in Canberra,
coppers who lie and cheat.
But the bourgeoisie of the ACT
wants more of them on the beat.
There are too many cops here in Canberra
coppers who bash and who maim.
But the bourgeoisie of the ACT
wants more of them all the same.
They had a Commissioner in Canberra
who shot him we'll never know.
But it's one cop less
and it caused no distress,
it seems like the way to go.
The coppers they blamed a pensioner.
the people they blamed the police,
But the bourgeoisie of the ACT
told us "that is not very nice".
I went down to Olims Hotel
to hear Kevin Carmody sing
The biggest mob of cops turned up
oh what a wondrous thing,
Well Kevin's a black man from Queensland
his weapon an electric guitar
the welcome the cops gave him in Canberra
was meant to ensure he'd go far.
Migrants, the young and Aborigines
get the rough end of the stick.
In Canberra the rich have a good time
and down here the coppers are quick —
or thick
or sick.
Maybe they're quick
and they're thick
and they're sick.
Now the copper's they pulled out their batons
and rushed up the stairs towards me.
I held out my hand said "You don't understand
It's a concert by Kevin Carmody
It's a concert by Kevin Carmody.
They would not take cheques
they'd come strait from Aidex
to the concert by Kevin Carmody
to the concert by Kevin Carmody.
The coppers were there by the score
not to arrest the rich crooks
or to round up lost chooks
they were there to hassle the poor.
To the magistrate's court I was brought
for once the coppers refused to be bought.
For the bourgeoisie of the ACT that was food for thought.
The cops they lied to a man
as only a copper can
all their stories were straight
though some had come late ...
They lied when they said I resisted
They lied when they said I kicked out
for the bourgeoisie of the ACT
I'm just another lout.
They're cutting more staff in health
increasing police budgets by stealth
corruption and fraud is by coppers ignored
and welfare we just can't afford.
There are too many cops here in Canberra
cops never go out on their own.
So if you're poor, or you're Black
or you're homeless
then don't walk the street here alone.
So ignore your betters
please listen to me
if you're down on your uppers
you can't trust the coppers
cause they are all rotters
down here in the ACT.