Wake up in a strange land

One of forty thieves

And I see for the first time

Just what you believe

I go down to the market

Where I can buy or sell

And listen to the chanting

And all the lies the wise ones tell

They say

East is east

West is west

Two different colors on the map

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap

Beggars in the back street

There for all the world to leave

It's you that's begging for attention

Well it's all the same to me

And I won't ask permission

Not from teachers or from kings

'Cause I can see for myself

All the pain that you will bring

They say

East is east

West is west

Two different rhythms to the rap

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap

East is east

West is west

Two diff'rent colors on the map

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap

Can you smell the perfume

Of a hundred thousand years

Dare you look into the eyes

That hide a hundred million tears

But there's no need to be so frightened

Of all the figures in the night

'Cause we share the same emotions

And no one's wrong and no one's right

'Cause they say

East is east

West is west

Two diff'rent colors on the map

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap

They say

East is east

West is west

Two different colors on the map

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap

They say

East is east

West is west

Two different rhythms to the rap

We say break the line chew the fat

And keep moving out into the gap