The World Turned Upside Down

Melody - "When the King enjoys his own again"

from the Thomason Tracts, 1646

Listen to me and you shall hear,
News hath not been this thousand year:
Since Herod, Caesar, and many more,
You never heard the like before.
Holy-dayes are despis'd,
New fashions are devis'd.
Old Christmas is kickt out of Town.
Refrain:
Yet let's be content,
And the times lament,
You see the world turn'd upside down.

2. The wise men did rejoyce to see
Our Savior Christs Nativity:
The Angels did good tidings bring,
The Sheepheards did rejoyce and sing.
Let all honest men,
Take example by them.
Why should we from good Laws be bound?
Refrain:

3. Command is given, we must obey,
And quite forget old Christmas day:
Kill a thousand men, or a Town regain,
We will give thanks and praise amain.
The wine pot shall clinke,
We will feast and drinke.
And then strange motions will abound.
Refrain:

4. Our Lords and Knights, and Gentry too, doe
Mean old fashions to forgoe:
They set a porter at the gate,
That none must enter in thereat.
They count it a sin,
When poor people come in.
Hospitality it selfe is drown'd.
Refrain:

5. The serving men doe sit and whine,
And thinke it long ere dinner time:
The Butler's still out of the way,
Or else my Lady keeps the key,
The poor old cook,
In the larder doth look,
Where is no goodnesse to be found,
Refrain:

6. To conclude, I'le tell you news that's right,
Christmas was kil'd at Naseby fight:
Charity was slain at that same time,
Jack Tell troth too, a friend of mine,
Likewise then did die,
Rost beef and shred pie,
Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found.
Refrain:

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