Give it up for Don Henley
It was his song first
But now it's 20 years later
Time for a new verse
The media keeps getting worse
Full of dirty laundry

You know the news has a purpose:
Report the facts
But if it doesn't get the ratings
It gets the axe
Better bring the viewers back
Give them dirty laundry

Build the story up
Put the people down
Build the story up
Put the people down

Build the story up
Put the people down
Take away their lives
Run 'em outta town

Now everybody knows O.J.
And his Bronco ride
The jury says he's innocent
The people say he lied
But we won't let that story die
He's got dirty laundry

And there's Pamela and Anna
How can we forget?
You know the boys across the nation
Have a running bet
Which girl's got the nicer set?
Show us dirty laundry

And this guy Osama's
Got us seeing red
But the army can't find him
Fight Hussein instead
Just put a bullet in their heads
Make some dirty laundry

Build the story up
Put the people down
Build the story up
Put the people down

Build the story up
Put the people down
Take away their lives
Run 'em outta town

Dirty little newscasts
Dirty little games
They make dirty little rumors
Then add a famous name
Ain't it all a crying shame?
They want dirty laundry

Whether it's on local
or on Larry King
Don't go looking for the truth
Because you won't find a thing
The ratings control everything
They need dirty laundry