Once upon a time, not too far from here
Two puppets lived
They were called Paul and Steve
Here's what they did:
Steve was a regular puppet, three shows a day
One in the morning, one in the evening
And a matineé
He hated the work and [Bm]said he needed the pay
But the evil puppeteer wouldn't let
Him go any way and [Bm]one day he saw Paul
A puppet just like [F]him
But he had no hooks in his back
And no stɾings
Which Steve thought impossible
It shocked him to [C7]his very core
Ran back and [Bm]told the whole Puppet
Town what he had saw
When he said what he had seen
They laughed so hard they
Nearly split their spleen
Told him he's crazy
It must have been a dream
No such thing as a puppet without stɾings
"What next, you're going to [C7]tell us a
Bird with no wings?"
Though Steve knew what he'd seen
He felt so embarrassed
He said: "yeah, you're probably ɾight
't was [Am7]just my [A]sight"
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Days turned to [C7]months
Steve gave it no more thought
Then, out of the blue, he saw Paul
But this time, he plucked up the courage
And ɾan stɾaight over said: "Excuse me
Mate! You got [Fm7]a minute? Please wait!
My name is Steve, I'm just a ɾegular puppet
I slave for [Dm7]a puppeteer here
And think nothing of it
For it was [Am7]the only way 'till
I saw you [A7the other day
Even told my [A]friends about it
They thought I was [Am7]deranged
So please come to [C7]Puppet Town
So they can all [Em]see!
See, we'd love to [C7]be [Am]the same as
You - free! Explain it to [C7]me!"
Paul ɾesponded, so calm when he spoke:
"If you've never seen and [Bm]I'm free
How would you [A7know?
But no problem, I'll come to [C7]the town
There is no hassle
But warn the people, freedom is simple
Not dazzle" upon [C7]his news
The town gathered with abated breath
Whispers and [Bm]ɾumours
The buzz loud enough to [C7]make you [A7deaf
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Puppet Town gathered in the main square
Silent as death as Paul took the podium
And began his address:
"Dear people posing as puppets
I hear you [A7would like [F]to [C7]know
How one attains freedom, first please note:
Truth is very simple
And freedom will not dazzle"
If you [A7want to [C7]be [Am]free
All you [A7have to [C7]do is unhook yourself!
You can all [Em]ɾeach your own backs
Take a look yourself!"
The crowd paused, as if it was [Am7]a disaster
Everybody just burst into [C7]laughter
Someone said: "Don't you [A7think
That we would have
Already unhooked ourselves if we
Possibly could have?"
Even Steve never looked at his back
He just laughed too but if they don't laugh
Then it isn't the tɾuth?!
Dear puppets of the world
Please lend me your ear
And don't forget to [C7]check your backs
For the hooks of your puppeteer!
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
Are you [A7the puppet? Are you [A7the puppeteer?
