Words and music by Jimmy Nail



Can you hear it in your streets ?

talk so cheap like tumbledown

empty words and dirty deeds

words so deep we all could drown



promise of a world so fine

a picture-postcard pepperdine

and all you have to do is sign

upon that dotted line



take the word of one who knows

hear it comes, there it goes

get yourself out while you can

save you from the running man



I'll decide what I believc

no-one's gonna change me now

and I'll say how I live this life

you're not gonna tell me how



promise of a world so fine

no more drugs, an end to crime

don't you see for folks like mine

your ways have had their time



heaven help the chosen few

you best start prayin' that it's not you

get your kids out while you can

save them from the running man



take your vision some place else

give to them your tired tale

can't you hear those ringing bells ?

can't you see your bread is stale ?



promise of a world so fine

angels drinking turpentine

don't you know we know that line

we've heard it all before



close your mouths and close your doors

spare us all from any more

get your guns out while you can

save you from the running man