The World Turned Upside Down
The World Turned Upside Down is an English ballad . Different versions have come down to us.
history
The ballad was first used at Christmas as a protest against Oliver Cromwell's policies . Cromwell had banned traditional English Christmas carols.
In the American War of Independence, a British army under Lord Cornwallis had to surrender to the American troops in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 . Legend has it that its drummers and pipers played the song when they marched out of the entrenchments of Yorktown .
text
- 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 kicking out of town.
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
- 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?
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
- 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.
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
- 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.
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
- 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,
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.
- 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, rust beef and shred pie,
- Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found.
- Yet let's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn'd upside down.