Author: protestfamily

The world's favourite east London semi-acoustic political sing along folk punk group.

Put Up Shut Up Britain (Part Five)

In solidarity with our comrades at the NEU campaigning against agencies offshoring millions of pounds in profit made in the supply teacher ‘market’. With thanks to Reel News for the film.

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
A government to turn a blind eye
A trade union to stop it
‘Cause the world keeps turning on education
And you’d think an educated nation
Wouldn’t settle for an NQT
Who comes with a hefty fee

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
Like some kinda nightmare-ish
Capitalist project
Where the money that’s supposed to circle
Goes in a straight line instead
From agency to shell company
To hedge fund, virtually tax-free

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
In a system that prefers your dough
In a rich man’s pocket
While the Minister, dear God
Declares she’s doing a “fucking good job”
A good job fucking with it, more like
No wonder the teachers go on strike

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But Teaching Personnel to profit
A subsidiary of Hood TopCo
Whose dividend’s set to rocket
And Simply Ed’s at it too
A million quid off me and you
To turn a temp’ry teacher
Into shareholder value

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

It takes a village to raise a child
But an agency to profit
By managing supply
It’s time we made ‘em stop it

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain
Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain

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They All Sent Flowers

They all sent flowers
And all the flowers died
And I understood flowers
For the very first time
A gift of something dying
Gently saying this is normal
We’re all beautiful but fleeting
And this is how it goes

It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes

They all sent roses
And all the roses died
Their petals dropping quietly
One at a time
We watched the petals falling
Gently saying this is normal
We’re all beautiful but fleeting
And this is how it goes

It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes

They all sent lilies
And all the lilies died
But the scent of the lilies
Stayed around for a while
A gift of something dying
Leaving echoes this is normal
We’re all beautiful but fleeting
And this is how it goes

It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes

They all sent flowers
And all the flowers died
Some faded far too quickly
Some others took their time
A gift of something dying
Gently saying this is normal
We’re all beautiful but fleeting
And this is how it goes

It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes
It’s how it goes
This is how it goes

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Women 0-1 Oh, East London

Not my bus
Not my people
Oh, East London
Is not for me

Stock sexism
From stocky sexists
Raucous drunks
Bray look at me

Oh, it’s your day
A clap hooray
The boys’ derisive
Repartee

Tits, fanny and Orient’s
Big day out
Goes back in time
Oh, referee!

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Non-Binary

Everybody’s got
Two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet
That’s why some think that binary is right
Well, it might be alright for George Galloway
But people ain’t as simple as night or day
And we’re all on a spectrum like light
Electro-magnetic radiation
It’s true we’re all members of a rainbow nation
And it ain’t as simple as identification
Because everybody has a right
Not necessarily to be who they want to be
Or I’d be Che Guevara in a racing car
Or at the very least a massive rock ‘n’ roll star
But we all deserve to burn bright
And everybody has a right
To be who they are

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The Art of Looking Away

Dead children
Funny cats
Dead children
Our ten best hacks
Dead children
Suspicious activity
Dead children
Click here to see
Dead children
Meghan and Harry
Dead children
Are they really unhappy
Dead children
How to get an upgrade
Dead children
Review and get paid
Dead children
The great game
Dead children
It’s always been the same
Dead children
Buy or sell
The burning man cries Free Palestine
Perhaps he wasn’t well

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Just Another Day at Elbit

There’s a man in a factory in Leicester
Fixing wings onto military drones
He breaks at eleven for coffee
While they bomb Palestinian homes

He flicks on the office kettle
Spoons coffee into her cup
Looks over at her workstation
Hoping that she’ll look up

It’s just a nine to five
It’s just a nine to five
Building military systems
To be fired at a distance
It’s just a nine to five

She smiles as he hands her a cuppa
Looking up from her targeting grids
She likes it when he brings her coffee
While they shoot Palestinian kids

He waits as she blows it cool gently
And wonders if he should just ask her
What is she doing this Friday
While we watch the destruction of Gaza

It’s just a nine to five
It’s just a nine to five
Building military systems
To be fired at a distance
It’s just a nine to five

There’s a man in a factory in Leicester
Dreaming of romance and love
Through his day to day military technology
Assembling death from above

One day they’ll be together
Two kids and a dog called Jade
Remembering a factory in Leicester
Where the tools of war are made

It’s just a nine to five
It’s just a nine to five
Building military systems
To be fired at a distance
It’s just a nine to five

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Just Another Day at Elbit

There’s a man in a factory in Leicester
Fixing wings onto military drones
He breaks at eleven for coffee
While they bomb Palestinian homes

She smiles as he hands her a cuppa
Looking up from her targeting grids
She likes it when he brings her coffee
While they shoot Palestinian kids

He waits as she blows it cool gently
And wonders if he should just ask her
What is she doing this Friday
While we watch the destruction of Gaza

There’s a man in a factory in Leicester
Dreaming of romance and love
Through his nine to five military systems
Assembling death from above

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Unlucky Street

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

High crime
Traffic fine
Sex attacks
And decline

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

Fly tipped
Dog shit
County lines
Conflict

High crime
Traffic fine
Sex attacks
And decline

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

Front garden sofas
Poverty sarcomas
Everyone you know does
A shrug of the shoulders

At fly tipped
Dog shit
County lines
Conflict

High crime
Traffic fine
Sex attacks
And decline

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

Tags in the litter
A mattress in the river
Stand and deliver
Throw up a pigeon’s dinner

On front garden sofas
Poverty sarcomas
Everyone you know does
A shrug of the shoulders

At fly tipped
Dog shit
County lines
Conflict

High crime
Traffic fine
Sex attacks
And decline

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

Robbery’s a failure
Antisocial behaviour
Jesus Christ our saviour
Do us all a favour

Tags in the litter
A mattress in the river
Stand and deliver
Throw up a pigeon’s dinner

On front garden sofas
Poverty sarcomas
Everyone you know does
A shrug of the shoulders

At fly tipped
Dog shit
County lines
Conflict

High crime
Traffic fine
Sex attacks
And decline

Phone shop
Vape shop
Chicken shop
Bookies

It used to be so sweet
Now it’s Unlucky Street

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Noah

He had his head turned in a time that we forgot
He had his head turned, flattered by God
God said you’re the best of ‘em
Forget about the rest of ‘em
Build yourself and ark and let the bastards drown
Build yourself and ark and let the bastards drown
Build yourself and ark and let the bastards drown

God said Noah a hard rain’s gonna come
God said creation will be undone
So build yourself an ark
Build it big and smart
Build yourself an ark and let the bastards drown
Build yourself an ark and let the bastards drown
Build yourself an ark and let the bastards drown

Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
It’s 22 miles and we’re sinking fast

The animals came in two by two
The elephant and the kangaroo
Roo said my sister
Please save her mister
Noah said no, we’re gonna let the bastards drown
Noah said no, we’re gonna let the bastards drown
Noah said no, we’re gonna let the bastards drown

Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
It’s 22 miles and we’re sinking fast

The people heard that Noah was planning his escape
The people heard that Noah had left them to their fate
The people stormed the ark
And started to embark
What shall we do with Noah, shall we let the bastard drown
What shall we do with Noah, shall we let the bastard drown
What shall we do with Noah, shall we let the bastard drown

Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
It’s 22 miles and we’re sinking fast

The people stormed the ark, there was plenty inside
There was a little rain but no rising tide
They sang it’s always better
When we all work together
And there’s no need to ever let a single bastard drown
And there’s no need to ever let a single bastard drown
And there’s no need to ever let a single bastard drown

Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah Noah won’t you let us on the ark
Woah oh Noah won’t you let us on the ark
It’s 22 miles and we’re sinking fast
It’s 22 miles and we’re sinking fast

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