Spring Song after the Election (1955)

From the June 1955 issue of the Socialist Standard

Another Election has come and gone.

The tumult’s ended, the shouting’s done.

Tweedledum’s lost, and Tweedledee’s won.

Loud sing cuckoo!

Lib., Lab., Con.,—and C.P. too,

Made up a right reformist crew,

Dispensing the usual vote-catching brew.

Loud sing cuckoo!

Liberal and Tory, C.P. and Lab.,

All full of promises, all full of gab.

Labour with ’Erbie, Tories with Rab,

Loud sing cuckoo!

Sugar and soft soap again the rule.

Kissing the babies, playing the fool,

Nice glossy photos to make the girls drool.

Loud sing cuckoo!

Candidates handsome, candidates plain,

Candidates pleasing with might and main,

All to keep capitalism running again.

Loud sing cuckoo!

All the old catchcries out once more,

Canvassers knocking at every front door,

First they’d been seen since the barney before,

Loud sing cuckoo!

Street-comer meetings, things of the past, 

Democracy’s symbol’s a radio mast.

Now its the “ telly ’’—with all star cast.

Loud sing cuckoo!

Millions of workers put down their crosses, 

Applauded the “gains,” regretted the “losses,” 

Fine difference it made, they still work for bosses, 

Loud sing cuckoo!

So the farcical game goes on.

Tweedledum’s lost and Tweedledee’s won.

Another Election has come and gone,

Loud sing cuckoo!

Stan Hampson