[Verse 1] The golden years were purring smooth, prosperity's machine Bretton Woods had kept the peace since nineteen forty-three But cracks were spreading underneath the economic floor As Nixon slammed the window shut on gold's convertible door [Chorus] When the golden age shattered, nineteen seventy-three Wages, energy, policy - each nation's recipe Different mixing, different fixing, as the old rules fell apart W-E-P diverged the ways when crisis pierced the heart [Verse 2] Some countries built their wage bargains through unions strong and tight While others left the market free to set what seemed right Energy flowed through different veins - some blessed with oil below Others thirsting, always first to feel the shortage's blow [Chorus] When the golden age shattered, nineteen seventy-three Wages, energy, policy - each nation's recipe Different mixing, different fixing, as the old rules fell apart W-E-P diverged the ways when crisis pierced the heart [Bridge] Canada leaned on resources, America on might Each government would choose its tools to navigate the night Fiscal push or monetary squeeze, the policy debate While oil producers held the keys to every nation's fate [Verse 3] The regime break was crystal clear, no going back to before Each economy would write new rules for its domestic shore What worked in France might fail in Greece, what saved Japan might sink The Netherlands - dependencies made the weakest link [Chorus] When the golden age shattered, nineteen seventy-three Wages, energy, policy - each nation's recipe Different mixing, different fixing, as the old rules fell apart W-E-P diverged the ways when crisis pierced the heart [Outro] Remember wage institutions, energy's supply Policy mixes tell the story of how nations survive The golden age may be gone, but lessons still remain How different paths through crisis lead to different kinds of gain
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