Why do they starve down in Gondwana
While the living in the first world’s okay
Why do we fight with one another
There’s a war going on everyday
I hear children cry out for their mothers
While the battle steals their fathers away
Why do we cause so much misery
Tell me, why do we live in this way

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we caught up in a headlong stampede
Are we lost in a world gone insane

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we all living on the tip of an iceberg
Are we all living in vain

Why do we plough so many millions
Into the making of a nation’s defence
Must we prepare for armageddon
While our economy is tipped on the edge
Who should decide for everybody
Who should set the rules by which we live
Why should we slave so hard to be free
Till it costs us the earth to survive

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we caught up in a headlong stampede
Are we lost in a world gone insane

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we all living on the tip of an iceberg
Are we all living in vain

Some people die before their time – while some go on and on
Some make it rich – some stay so very poor
Some try and try all of their lives – just scraping by
While others – they just really seem to score
Is it luck or is it skill – I just don’t know how can we say for sure

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we caught up in a headlong stampede
Are we lost in a world gone insane

Are we all living in vain
Flushing our lives down the drain
Are we all living in vain
Are we all living on the tip of an iceberg
Are we all living in vain

Are we all living in vain – are we living in vain
Are we all living in vain – are we living in vain
Are we all living in vain – are we living in vain
Are we all living in vain – are we living in vain