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
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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
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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
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It takes a village to raise a child But an agency to profit By managing supply It’s time we made ‘em stop it
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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
From the excoriating take down of the unhinged right on Bin Bags to the Duryesque Cockney wordplay of title track Trickle Down Town with it’s refrain of “only shit trickles down”, Steve and his Protest Family offer more opposition in 43 minutes than Starmer and his gang of wannabe Tories have offered in the last 3 years.
From four hour waits for ambulances to dumping toxic and human waste into our rivers Steve chronicles the state of the nation like a furious Billy Bragg fronting Chumbawumba.
Leyton Orient’s house band Steve White and the Protest Family, truly radical folk with fire in their souls … deliver the goods with Trickledown Town, a ranting, dancing howl of rage at the state of the Tory nation…The royal family get nailed, the “anti-woke” right-wing media get nailed and a host of downtrodden characters get upbeat support.
Bin Bags A fruity ska-punk suggesting the bad old days of looney lefties with a touch of Uncle Bill. 4.2%
The River Darker than the offering from The Tutu Brewery. This one is all about the Bass. 4.4%
Trickle Down Town By Austerity’s New Clothes. Wicked gamey with underlying Cooper Clarke. 4.8%
When the Sun Goes Down Country-flavoured, brewed with tears and despair. Best just have a half. 6.0%
Dead End Friends Bittersweet. Heavily influenced by celebrity. 5.0%
The Gable A diverse brew that some drinkers say reminds them of Slade, but that was several landlords ago. Best served in a plastic glass at half-time. 4.2%
Should I Be Wearing a Mask? Light but assertive. Most drinkers miss the hint of iron. 3.6%
Air Miles Andy Bitter, like the late Queen’s favourite paedophile. Drink it fast. 4.4%
Harry, Won’t You Fly With Me? Romantically named but tastes of gold, guilt and greed. You won’t want another. 3.0%
Supersonic Magpie-flavoured with hints of Silver Machine. Moderately heavy. 5.2%
Where Tina Goes Fizzy pop with more than a hint of bite. 4.2%
Holding Your Breath The sister brew to When the Sun Goes Down. Tastes like Covid medicine. 5.0%
Put Up Shut Up Britain Tart, bold and intense, with no notes of tomato or cucumber whatsoever. 5.0%
Here it is, the bad apple defence A line they all pursue It’s alright round here really It’s just a bad apple or two
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It’s just the way things are done round here We turn a blind eye, we cock a deaf ear We reap what we sow We let the bad apples grow
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It ain’t everybody But the rules are very clear You never saw the bully And there’s banter you don’t hear
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
It ain’t everybody Just the facts that all folk know It’s the way we do things round here We just let bad apples grow
It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples It’s alright round here, just a few bad apples
I’ve got my radio on, tuned to LBC And every other jock’s tryin’ to tell me That culturally, the Muslim man Is pre-disposed to a grooming gang A grooming gang, not a paedophile ring ‘Cause a paedophile ring is a white man thing It’s a racist phone-in, non-stop And the worst of it is, it’s coming from the top It’s coming from the top and here’s the thing The people at the top have got brown skin It’s a desperate scramble for votes, last ditch
And people get hurt when you talk like this
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Our coach can’t get into Europe The school trip kiddies cry ‘Cause every passport needs a stamp Did you stop to wonder why? Is it two sides of the same coin, you ask Well, it’s definitely two cheeks of the same arse Do you need another clue?
We hate folk who ain’t from round here And the ones from round here too
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It’s limited and specific Like the KLF didn’t say All bound for Brexit Benefit Land Get out the fuckin’ way Welcome to Put Up Shut Up Britain Where the rules get ripped up and re-written For the fool who messed up worst and last In the interests of the ruling class And we’re throwing a party we can’t afford For the bloke on the business end of the sword While the supplicant kneeling is now at the helm Of the opposition, a knight of the realm We’ve got Charlie in charge, Charlie on the throne Where’s our revolucion? Charlie in France, well maybe not What chance have we fuckin’ got?
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The tide’s been going out for ages Rishi’s got a bucket and spade There’s a little bit less to go around these days So Rishi’s got a new game He knows he’s not the most popular kid But Rishi’s got a plan The tide’s been going out for ages And he’s drawing swastikas in the sand
Swastikas in the sand He’s drawing swastikas in the sand The tide’s been going out for ages And he’s drawing swastikas in the sand
Jonathan and Lee think that Rishi’s fab They want to join in the game Please let us play with you Rishi This lark should really have a name I’m going to call it Stop the Boats Whoever’s on them just gets banned The tide’s been going out for ages And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand
Swastikas in the sand They’re drawing swastikas in the sand The tide’s been going out for ages And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand
There’s hundreds and millions and billions Suella joins the game with glee I bet I can stop the boats the best Oh Rishi, won’t you play with me We can pretend they’re all evil And we should never let them land The tide’s been going out for ages And she’s drawing swastikas in the sand
Swastikas in the sand She’s drawing swastikas in the sand The tide’s been going out for ages And she’s drawing swastikas in the sand
Swastikas in the sand They’re drawing swastikas in the sand The tide’s been going out for ages And they’re drawing swastikas in the sand
Steve White & The Protest Family 