Key: D
Introduction:
D A
They're out of sorts in Sunderland
D B7
And terribly cross in Kent,
Em A
They're dull in Hull
D B7
And the Isle of Mull
E A7
Is seething with discontent,
D A
They're nervous in Northumberland
D G
And Devon is down the drain,
F#
They're filled with wrath
Bm
On the firth of Forth
E A7
And sullen on Salisbury Plain,
Am D G
In Dublin they're depressed, lads,
B7 Em
Maybe because they're Celts
A A7
For Drake is going West, lads,
E A7
And so is everyone else.
E7 A
Hurray, hurray, hurray!
A7
Misery's here to stay.
D Em A D D7
There are bad times just around the corner,
G B7 Em
There are dark clouds hurtling through the sky
A A7
And it's no good whining
D Bm
About a silver lining
E E7 A A7
For we know from experience that they won't roll by,
D D7
With a scowl and a frown
G G7
We'll keep our peckers down
E E7 A A7
And prepare for depression and doom and dread,
D Em A D G F#
We're going to unpack our troubles from our old kit bag
Bm E A D A D
And wait until we drop down dead.
verse 2
D A
From Portland Bill to Scarborough
D B7
They're querulous and subdued
Em A
And Shropshire lads
D B7
Have behaved like cads
E A7
From Berwick-on-Tweed to Bude,
D A
They're mad at Market Harborough
D G
And livid at Leigh-on-Sea,
F#
In Tunbridge Wells
Bm
You can hear the yells
E A7
Of woe-begone bourgeoisie.
Am D G
We all get bitched about, lads,
B7 Em
Whoever our vote elects,
A A7
We know we're up the spout, lads.
E A7
And that's what England expects.
E7 A
Hurray, hurray, hurray!
A7
Trouble is on the way.
D Em A D D7
There are bad times just around the corner,
G B7 Em
The horizon's gloomy as can be,
A A7
There are black birds over
D Bm
The grayish cliffs of Dover
E E7 A A7
And the rats are preparing to leave the BBC
D D7
We're an unhappy breed
G G7
And very bored indeed
E E7 A A7
When reminded of something that Nelson said.
D Em A D G F#
While the press and the politicians nag nag nag
Bm E A D A D
We'll wait until we drop down dead.
verse 3
D A
From Colwyn Bay to Kettering
D B7
They're sobbing themselves to sleep,
Em A
The shrieks and wails
D B7
In the Yorkshire dales
E A7
Have even depressed the sheep.
D A
In rather vulgar lettering
D G
A very disgruntled group
F#
Have posted bills
Bm
On the Cotswold Hills
E A7
To prove that we're in the soup.
Am D G
While begging Kipling's pardon
B7 Em
There's one thing we know for sure
A A7
If England is a garden
E A7
We ought to have more manure.
E7 A
Hurray, hurray, hurray!
A7
Suffering and dismay.
D Em A D D7
There are bad times just around the corner
G B7 Em
And the outlook's absolutely vile,
A A7
There are Home Fires smoking
D Bm
From Windermere to Woking
E E7 A A7
And we're not going to tighten our belts and smile, smile, smile,
D D7
At the sound of a shot
G G7
We'd just as soon as not
E E7 A A7
Take a hot water bottle and go to bed,
D Em A D G F#
We're going to un-tense our muscles till they sag sag sag
Bm E A D A D
And wait until we drop down dead.
D Em A D D7
There are bad times just around the corner,
G B7 Em
We can all look forward to despair,
A A7
It's as clear as crystal
D Bm
From Bridlington to Bristol
E E7 A A7
That we can't save democracy and we don't much care
D D7
If the Reds and the Pinks
G G7
Believe that England stinks
E E7 A A7
And that world revolution is bound to spread,
D Em A D G F#
We'd better all learn the lyrics of the old 'Red Flag'
Bm E A D A D
And wait until we drop down dead.