I expect you're entitled to know why I'm making contact
  With acquaintances scattered all over the land
  I'd promise you now and again that I'd honour the contract
  If it hadn't crumbled away in my hand
  So we broke that vow independently now
  But I don't know why you absolutely deny
  You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
  You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
  
  When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness
  It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour
  Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness
  Well you're getting plenty of both of them now
  And so you parade where appointments are made
  And never meant to be kept
  Unless you accept
  
  You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
  You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
  
  You value the burnt amber of falling leaves
  And you long to delay
  As you feel their breath as they whisper
  "It won't hurt you now to betray
  If you just bow down"
  
  And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria
  You're helping them sell off some new party line
  I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior
  Now you say "Will you please meet this good friend of mine?"
  So you're in demand as long as you kiss their hand
  But all the applause is for their name not yours