Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before.
Holidays are despised, new fashions are devised.
Old Christmas is kicked out of Town.
Yet let's be content,
And the times lament,
You see the world turned 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 amen.
The wine pot shall clinke, we will feast and drink.
And then strange motions will abound.
Yet let's be content,
And the times lament,
You see the world turned upside down.
Our Lords and Knights, and Gentry too,
Do 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 itself is drowned.
Yet let's be content,
And the times lament,
You see the world turned upside down.
When servingmen do sit and whine, and think it longer 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 turned upside down.
To conclude, I'le tell you news that's right,
Christmas was killed at Naseby fight:
Charity was slain at that same time,
Jack Tell troth too, a friend of mine,
Likewise then did dice, rost beef and shred pie,
Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found.
Yet let's be content, and the times lament,
You see the world turned upside down.