Shangri-La

Album: Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969)
Play Video
  • Now that you've found your paradise
    This is your kingdom to command
    You can go outside and polish your car
    Or sit by the fire in your Shangri-la

    Here's your reward for working so hard
    Gone on the lavatories in the back yard
    Gone all the days when you dreamed of that car
    You just want to sit in your shangri-la

    Put on your slippers and sit by the fire
    You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher
    You're in your place and you know where you are
    In your Shangri-la
    Sit back in your old rocking chair
    You need not worry, you need not care
    You can't go anywhere
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la

    The little man who gets the train
    Has got a mortgage hanging over his head
    But he's too scared to complain
    'Cause he's conditioned that way
    Time goes by and he pays off his debts
    Got a T.V set and a radio
    For seven Shillings a week
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la

    All the houses on the street have got a name
    'Cause all the houses in the street they look the same
    Same chimney pots, same little cars, same window panes
    The neighbors call to tell you things that you should know
    They say their lines, they drink their tea, and then they go
    They tell your business in another Shangri-la
    The gas bills and the water rates, and payments on the car
    Too scared to think about how insecure you are
    Life ain't so happy in your little Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la la la la la la la la la

    Put on your slippers and sit by the fire
    You've reached your top and you just can't get any higher
    You're in your place and you know where you are
    In your Shangri-la
    Sit back in your old rocking chair
    You need not worry, you need not care
    You can't go anywhere
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la
    Shangri-la Writer/s: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
    Publisher: Abkco Music Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Kimberly from Landing, NjThe song seems to be reporting the sign of our on tour of times with values of respect.
  • Allison from A Little Ol' Town In, MiI like the gutar in the beginning. The beginning sounds kind of haunting. Cool
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.