You’re not responsible for the damage that you do
Somebody’s gotta clean up your mess, but it sure ain’t gonna be you
You’ll give yourself glory when you tell us the story
and some will believe it’s all true

But you don’t care, it’s collateral damage
You had a job to do, they just got in your way
They don’t count, they’re collateral damage
You take what you want, and make the rest of us pay

You praise capitalism, and you give free advice to the poor
They just have to work hard, you say, and they won’t be poor no more
Poor people shouldn’t need your help, they should be ashamed to ask
Meanwhile your accountant gets you out of paying any tax

But you don’t care, it’s collateral damage
Markets will rise, and then markets will fall
You say the poor shouldn’t be such sore losers
Didn’t they know that it’s winners take all

You’re a player in the arms trade, making real big bucks off war
You don’t worry yourself too much about what the war is for
You just like to blow things up and watch all the people run
It’s just like playing a video game once the killing has begun

And you don’t care, they’re collateral damage
None of them had a face or a name
Notch your belt, they’re collateral damage
After all, they’re just pawns in the game