(with apologies to Robert Browning)
Part 1 – Past
Oh not to be in England
Now that Thatcher’s here
Selling off the council houses
In the hopes the poor might disappear.
Oh not to be in England as she carries on her reign
Levelling up the country
With poll tax
So we all can pay the same
Oh not to be in England
As she becomes even more imperial
Other countries can supply our needs
We’ll just have service industries
Oh not to be in England with this worst of all Prime Ministers
WHAT? She isn’t? That can’t be true
After all she did – let’s see…….
Oh not to be in England
Now that Blair’s in power
With his foolish hopes
That 50% can live in an ivory tower.
Oh not to be in England
When this George Bush puppy is still here
Not realising that a puppy is not consulted
On when to start a war.
So he’s the worst? You can’t mean no…….
Oh not to be in England
Now that Cameron is here
But not for very long
We’ll pretend he didn’t appear.
So he’s not the worst?
Could have been but……..
Part 2 – Present
Oh not to be in England
Now that Johnson’s here
Carrying out the orders
Of his swivel-eyed puppeteer.
Oh not to be in England
Now that Johnson’s here
With his cabinet of clones
Who’ve had their common sense removed
And their brains replaced with stones.
Oh not to be in England
Now that Cummings is here
Sneering at the population
Who have tried their best to keep the rules
And protect the nation.
Oh not to be in England
Now that Patel is here
Encouraging the far right
With every cruel idea.
Oh not to be in England
That was a democracy bar none
But sadly now this concept
Is almost dead and gone.
Oh not to be in England
With our dodgy government
Ladling out the best jobs
To all its mates,
Leaving those who can
And know what to do
To worry about our fate.
Oh not to be in England
Now Dido Harding is here
Messing up the test and trace
She seems to be another
Who has had to disappear
Oh not to be in England
When those in power caught in dodgy moves
Do not resign
But wait for Johnson to draw his line
All done, all forgotten, move on.
Part 3 – Future
Oh to be in England
When wealth no longer rules
When we are all concerned to do our best for hospitals and schools
And when even those in power can understand
That real jobs are what we need to keep our country grounded
And regard for every worker
And belief that every area is equal to the rest
And then perhaps, perhaps
We will once more be seen at our best.