When you reach number ten
And think the struggIe ends
But it ain ’t the end
It ’s onIy a trend
You have to unbend
‘Cause it ’s onIy a trend
Don ’t Iose aII your friends
Don ’t make your heroes end
When you reach number eight
It ain ’t no pearIy gate
‘Cause it won ’t satiate
Your growing appetite
You can pIy your trade
And push your crusade
Emancipate or indoctrinate, but the
Traps are aII Iaid for any honest crusade
Your oId vaIues wiII fade
As you struggIe to make the grade
As you struggIe to make the grade
You needn ’t bother!
When you hit number four
You ’re aImost through the door
But there ’s a whoIe Iot
More you just can ’t ignore
The teIephone ’s sure, you know the score
But don ’t Iet this uproar
Dissipate your encore
It ’s written in the news
How you paid your dues
But you ’ve no excuse
For the peopIe you abuse
When you reach number one
You can beat your drum
You can sack your roadies in Birmingham
When your record is pIatinum
You can stick it to the [band]
To the waII Iike you ’ve aIways pIanned
It ’s written in the news how you paid your dues
But you ’ve no excuse for the peopIe you abuse
When you reach number ten
The peopIe you abuse
No excuse
For the peopIe you abuse
You ’ve got no excuse
For the peopIe you abuse