Lyrics:
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1. No wonder that butter's a shilling a pound
See the rich farmer's daughters, how they ride up and down.
If you ask them the reason, they cry: "O, alas,
There's a war on in France and the cows have no grass!"
Chorus:
Singing honesty 's all out of fashion
These are the rigs of the time
Time, my boys,
These are the rigs of the time
2. ‘Tis of an old butcher, I must bring him in.
Charges two bob a pound and thinks it no sin.
Slaps his thumb on the scales and he makes them go down,
He swears it's good weight yet it wants half a pound.
3. Next is the baker, I must bring him in.
Charges fourpence a loaf and thinks it no sin.
When he do bring it in, is not bigger than your fist,
And the top of the loaf is popped off with the yeast.
4. O the next is a publican, I must bring him in,
Charges four pence a quart - he thinks it no sin.
When he brings in the quart, the measure is short:
The top of the pot is lopped off with the froth.
5. Here’s next to the tailor who skimps on our clothes
And next to the shoemaker who pinches our toes.
We’ve nought in our bellies, our bodies are bare.
No wonder we’ve reason to curse and swear.
6. Now absentee landlords, I must bring 'em in
Their rents are sky-high and they think it no sin.
Their ceilings fall in and the walls run with slime.
They're for blacks or for Irish and so no-one minds.
7. And next there’s the lawyer, you plainly will see,
He’ll plead for your case for a very large fee.
All day he will talk proving all wrong is right.
He will make you believe that a black horse is white.
8. And next there’s the parson, he will soon save your soul
If you stick to the Book you will keep off the dole.
He’ll give you his blessing & likewise his curse,
Put his hand in your pocket & walk off with your purse.
9. And next there’s the doctor, I nearly forgot.
I believe in my heart, he is the worst of the lot.
He’ll tell you he’ll cure you for half you possess
And when you are buried he'll take all the rest.
10. Now the very best plan that I can find
Is to pop them all up in a high gale of wynd
And when they get up, oh, the cloud it will burst
And the biggest old rascal come tumbling down first.
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