carving up the world again... a wall and not a fen

Robert Plant

The Russians, the Americans, the British and the French
They're carving up the world again, it's getting kind of tense
A whole lotta posture and very little sense
It's no surprise they hide behind a wall and not a fence

The Irish and the English and the Scottish and the Welsh
A damp and misty history they keep it to themselves
All lost in dark antiquity and smouldering descent
Invisible divisions "behind a wall and not a fence"

Trouble at the border. In the eleventh hour
Ditch and wire and palisade in the line of fire
Call up the cavalry and double up the guard
Preparing for catastrophe inside the house of cards

In China they got worried they built themselves a wall
They built it big and long and tall. To keep away the hoard
A hundred years of blood and toil. A million lives expend
The steely grip of dynasty "behind a wall and not a fence"

Trouble at the border. In the eleventh hour
Ditch and wire and palisade in the line of fire
Call up the cavalry and double up the guard
Preparing for catastrophe inside the house of cards

Trouble at the border. In the eleventh hour
Ditch and wire and palisade in the line of fire
Call up the cavalry and double up the guard
Preparing for catastrophe inside the house of cards

Emperors and Sultans, Kings and Presidents
Dictators and ambassadors engaged in our defence
A lifetime of great service, of selfless good intent
Guaranteed immunity "behind a wall and not a fence"

Trouble at the border. In the eleventh hour
Ditch and wire and palisade in the line of fire
Call up the cavalry and double up the guard
Preparing for catastrophe inside the house of cards

Trouble at the border. In the eleventh hour
Ditch and wire and palisade in the line of fire
Call up the cavalry and double up the guard
Preparing for catastrophe inside the house of cards