Who Are These People?

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Who are these people that keep telling us lies
And how did these people get control of our lives
And who'll stop the violence 'cause it's out of control?
Make 'em stop

Who are these people that destroy everything
And sell off the future for whatever it brings
And what kind of leaders can't admit when they're wrong?
Make 'em stop

This stupid mess we're in just keeps getting worse
So many people dying needlessly
Looks like these liars may inherit the earth
Even pretending to pray
And getting away with it

Who are these people that keep telling us lies
And how did these people get control of our lives
And who'll stop the violence 'cause it's out of control?
We've got to make them stop

Who are these people that keep telling us lies
And how did these people get control of our lives
And who'll stop the violence 'cause it's out of control?
Make 'em stop

See things really have to change
Before it's too late *

* (Alternate lyric in the "explicit version":)
Or we're all fucked

Who Are These People?
Words byBurt Bacharach & Tonio K
Music byBurt Bacharach
Performed byBurt Bacharach featuring Elvis Costello
Produced byBurt Bacharach
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Burt Bacharach - piano, keyboards
John Pagano - vocal
Josie James - vocal
Donna Taylor - vocal
Jim Cox - keyboards
Rob Shrock - synthesizer
Neil Stubenhaus - bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
John "JR" Robinson - additional drums
Dan Greco - percussion
Dan Higgins - saxophones
Warren Luening - trumpet, flugelhorn
Joel Derouin - violin solo (concertmaster)
Frances Liu - contrabass
Terry Christiansen - contrabass
Earle Dumler - oboe
Recorded2005, Avatar Studios, New York (Elvis' vocal), Ocean Way, Los Angeles, and/or Record One Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA (everything else)
ReleasedOctober 24, 2005
AlbumsBurt Bacharach: At This Time, 2005
Various Artists collectionsMagic Moments - The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection, 2008
Length4:13

First known performance:
     (0 known performances)


Eye.jpg
“When Burt's conscience moved him to write his own lyrics for the At This Time album, he called me up to sing on, 'Who Are These People', a particularly harsh critique of the way the world is headed. I asked Burt to give me a sense of the song. He said, 'Things really have to change or we're all fucked'. I said, 'What are the lyrics?' He said, 'Those are the lyrics'.” Magic Moments - The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection liner notes

Alternate versions

Who Are These People? (Explicit Version)
Performed byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Produced byBurt Bacharach
ReleasedMarch 7, 2006
DownloadsWho Are These People?, 2006 (download-only single)
Length4:13
NoteThis is identical to the album track until the final line of the song.
Burt Bacharach: At This TimeBurt Bacharach At This Time.jpg

Who Are These PeopleWho Are These People iTunes artwork.jpg


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External links