We’ve been asked a few times for the words to this song. So here they are.

The Great Whale of Westminster

‘Go home!’ was the cry from the banks of the Thames

As the great whale of Westminster shallowed the swell

Of the baggy brown water dragged under the face

Of Big Ben as he chimed and as time slipped away

Time, time, time, slipped away.

‘Go home!’ was the chorus that rose from the crowd

And ran round the gargoyled corridors of power,

As, shoulder to shoulder, the kids lifted high

For the memory as the news crews choppered the sky.

Mr whippy sang shanties as the squally gulls squeaked

And burst clouds of helium balloons with their beaks.

‘Go home!’ was the message the church bells did bring

From the other great fish, nowhere left to swim,

In the bowels of the museum, nowhere left to hide

In a coffin of Perspex and formaldehyde.

‘Go home!’ said the beggar at the foot of the steps

Of the bridge from which charity seems to have leapt.

‘You do not belong here, you’ll never survive

‘The fear in our bellies, the wink of our knives.’

On the scaffold the hard hats placed bets on his life

And the cranes swung their chains as if casting a line.

And distressed by the circus, bullied by the tide

The great whale of Westminster swallowed and dived.

Swallowed, swallowed, swallowed, and dived.

By Kate Bradbury

Diego Brown and the Good Fairy

Watch the video.

Tags: lyrics, songs