Oh, the strataOf society,Down from Emperor to slave, Oh, they tell youWhat you ought to doAnd just how you should behave And the mannersThat you have to showWhen superiors you pass... Roman people,Neatly organized,Into layers, class by class.

From the togaWith a purple stripe,To the sack-cloth down below, Know your statusIn society,What you wear and who you know, Status symbols?Own a villaAnd a garden and a horse...Make your slaves doWhat you want them to,When you want them to, of course.

At the bathhouseAre you pampered?At the theatre, where’s your seat? Are you wealthy?Are you healthy?Are you part of the elite?Yes, the senatorAnd the citizen,Seeking privilege, no doubt... Seeking power, seeking influence, Are they ‘in’, or are they ‘out’?

Oh, the strataOf society,Down from Emperor to slave, Oh, they tell youWhat you ought to doAnd just how you should behave And the mannersThat you have to showWhen superiors you pass... Roman people,Neatly organized,Into layers, class by class.