The Handshake lyrics

Every time you shake someone's hand

And it feels like your best friend

Could it be that it's only superficiality?

Without regard to well-being

Without an inkling of compromise

Handshakes are nothing but a subtle "fuck you"

And contracts determine the best friendships

This is the way of the modern world

Everyone's vying for patronage

This is the way of the modern world

And something's gotta give

Every time you shake someone's hand

And you share neither color nor creed

Got to overcome the obstacles of history

There is restrained passion, mistrust, and bigotry

And these have created the new foundations of society

There's no harmony, just class and race

This is the way of the modern world

Everyone's fighting for dominance

This is the way of the modern world

And something's gotta give

Now, I believe in unity

And I am willing to compromise

But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul

Every time you shake someone's hand

It determines where you stand

And if you won't uphold your side, it's better to...

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

(I believe in unity)

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

(And I am willing to compromise)

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

(I believe in unity)

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

(But I'm not gonna lie or sell my soul)

Fend for yourself, fend for yourself

Fend for yourself, and shun the handshake

Someone's gotta give!

• Artist:Bad Religion
• Album:Stranger than Fiction (1994)