Co-writer Liz Neumayr was part of a band called Ladyfuzz that were also signed to Transgressive Records. Neumayr was housemates with Kele Okereke for a period of time according to a 2007 NME article, so presumably this song was written while the pair were living together.
[Instrumental Intro]
[Verse 1: Kele Okereke]
Feeding the five thousand
Was not done with prayers alone
And it takes blood and guts, and it takes devotion
I'm so tired of standing up and so tired of drawing breath
Now it's your turn to take the map
And it's your turn to drop the soap and...
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 2: Kele Okereke, Gordon Moakes, Kele Okereke & Gordon Moakes]
We got pretty, pretty boys sucking on a cola
Money to burn, money to burn, money to burn
We got rules to protect you
Isaac and Ishmael
The magazine says it's okay
A life as a billboard
And if you are the answer
We are going straight to Hell
[Chorus: Gordon Moakes & Kele Okereke]
Grown in a parental fugue (And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know)
Weight loss in self-respect (We'll fatigue, we'll fatigue, we'll fatigue, we'll sprint slow)
Bomb, bomb, bomb us back together (And we fought, and we fought, and we fought, and we fought)
A new way into a lost answer (We fought for- we fought for you)
[Bridge: Kele Okereke & Gordon Moakes]
You could talk a little less
And you could talk a little less
And you could talk a little less
And you could talk a little less
[Verse 3: Kele Okereke]
Feeding the five thousand
Was not done with prayers alone
And it takes blood and guts, and it takes devotion
I'm so tired of standing up and so tired of drawing breath
Now it's your turn to take the map
And it's your turn to drop the soap and...
[Chorus: Gordon Moakes & Kele Okereke]
Grown in a parental fugue (And I know, and I know, and I know, and I know)
Weight loss in self-respect (We'll fatigue, we'll fatigue, we'll fatigue, we'll sprint slow)
Bomb, bomb, bomb us back together (And we fought, and we fought, and we fought, and we fought)
A new way into a lost answer (We fought for- we fought for you)
[Instrumental Outro]
The Answer was written by Liz Neumayer & Russell Lissack & Matt Tong & Gordon Moakes & Kele.
The Answer was produced by Graham Sutton & Bloc Party.
Bloc Party released The Answer on Mon Feb 16 2004.