[Verse 1]
After the war the world was broken
Nations needed a brand new way
Four pillars built prosperity spoken
Fixed exchange rates led the way
Regulated banks kept money stable
Strong unions gave workers their voice
Rebuilding demand filled every table
The postwar boom was our choice
[Chorus]
Bretton Woods was the golden key
Stable Fixed Regulated Strong
S-F-R-S, remember these
The package that made prosperity long
Trade openness with policy goals
But currency pegs controlled our roles
Nineteen seventy-three broke it all apart
The regime change was just the start
[Verse 2]
Exchange rates pegged to the dollar's might
Finance was caged, couldn't run free
Labor institutions had real fight
Demand rebuilt across every sea
This institutional package deal
Made the golden age economies grow
But constraints were always real
The peg decided which way we'd go
[Chorus]
Bretton Woods was the golden key
Stable Fixed Regulated Strong
S-F-R-S, remember these
The package that made prosperity long
Trade openness with policy goals
But currency pegs controlled our roles
Nineteen seventy-three broke it all apart
The regime change was just the start
[Bridge]
The trade-off was always there to see
Open markets versus policy space
The peg constrained what we could be
Put limits on our fiscal race
When the system finally fell
A new regime took its place
[Chorus]
Bretton Woods was the golden key
Stable Fixed Regulated Strong
S-F-R-S, remember these
The package that made prosperity long
Trade openness with policy goals
But currency pegs controlled our roles
Nineteen seventy-three broke it all apart
The regime change was just the start
[Outro]
Four pillars held the postwar dream
Till seventy-three changed everything
The institutional regime
Made economies dance and sing