Thank You for Hearing Me: The Definitive Sinéad O'Connor Discography

“What Is a Real V.I.P.?”

Composed by Sinéad O'Connor

1 version

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How About I Be Me (and You Be You)? album

Lyrics

(Source: Paddy Doyle: The God Squad)

Do we have the balls to go to that party?
Or would we rather dance with vanity?
Tell me now what's a real V.I.P?
Who are we to give that name to us?
When we don't know the lives of others.
When we can barely raise a finger.
to help our own sisters and brothers.
Wasn't it in history.
The artists always spoke their people's needs?
Now we're gorged upon what devils feed
In the shallow form of M.T.V
Telling the youth to worship futile dreams.
And long for bling and for material things.
I tell you what a really real V.I.P is..
A face that never was nor will be kissed.
To whom exactly are we giving hope?
When we stand behind the velvet rope.
Getting our pictures taken with the pope
Like some sick April fool kind of joke.
Who is the real V.I.P?
The true and the most conquering king
Who looks around at everything?
And knows exactly what we've been.
His is the face that never was nor will be kissed.
Do we think we'll be down on his guest list?
When we're standing at the gate.
After being fashionably late.
There'll be no make-up and there'll be no film crew.
No vuitton bags and no manolo shoes.
When he's presiding over you.
Asking you did you love only you.
Or did you stand for something else.
Besides the hankering for fame and famousness.
The one who always was and always is
Will show you what a real V.I.P is.
The fatherless.
The motherless.
The ravaged child at home
who cried to you.
You will be asked to say
what did you do.
What is behind his velvet curtain?
Don't know but I can say for certain
The face that never was nor will be kissed
Will tell you what a real V.I.P is.

Notes

Not a song at all, but a poem Sinéad published on February 20th, 2010 in response to the findings of the 2009 report (the "Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse," commonly called "Ryan Report").

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