This is a song about an ultimately unsuccessful prison breakout. There is a message within the song about how these type of events are often portrayed in the press in a sensationalized fashion but this is also dehumanizing the whole process.

The song has a mid-temp Indie Rock style.

Lyrics

Desperate People by Collo

VERSE 1a
Sirens wailing | mass confusion
Guards are injured | security failure
Choppers searching | pursuit cars chasing
Small town sighting – people frightened

VERSE 1b
Sirens wailing | mass confusion
Guards are injured | security failure
Choppers searching | pursuit cars chasing
Small town sighting – people frightened

CHORUS 1
Desperate people doing desperate things
How do we rationalise it?
We judge and criticise it

Desperate people are doing very desperate things
We want to televise it
But we dare not humanise it

VERSE 2a
Local robbery | money stolen
Assault and battery | innocents injured
Police informants | bushland hideout
Net is closing – no escaping

VERSE 2b
Local robbery | money stolen
Assault and battery | innocents injured
Police informants | bushland hideout
Net is closing – no escaping

CHORUS 2
Desperate people doing desperate things
How do we rationalise it?
We judge and criticise it

Desperate people are doing very desperate things
We want to televise it
But we dare not humanise it

VERSE 3a
Gunshot sounding | tear gas vapours
Bravado’s shouting | no surrender
Chips are cashed in | there’s no mercy
A lonely shack with 2 cold bodies

VERSE 3b
Gunshot sounding | tear gas vapours
Bravado’s shouting | no surrender
Chips are cashed in | there’s no mercy
A lonely shack with 2 cold bodies

CHORUS 3
Desperate people doing desperate things
How do we rationalise it?
We judge and criticise it

Desperate people are doing very desperate things
We want to televise it
But we dare not humanise it

BRIDGE
Why does this still keep on happening?
Why is change oh so slow?
Fearful guards and fearful inmates
An answer it seems that nobody knows

Why does this still keep on happening?
Why is change oh so slow?
Fearful guards and fearful inmates
An answer it seems that nobody knows

CHORUS 4
Desperate people doing desperate things
How do we rationalise it?
We judge and criticise it

Desperate people are doing very desperate things
We want to televise it
But we dare not humanise it

OUTRO
Another prison breakout
Another prison breakout