Nurseryrhyme forourtimes

THE BELLS, THE BELLS

‘Oranges and lemons,’ Say the bells of St Clement’s, ‘Have you all heard ‘About Big Ben — it’s absurd!’ ‘Yes, we all know,’ Says the great bell of Bow. ‘It’s all very sad, ‘Elf ’n’ safety’s gone mad.’ ‘If the workers complain ‘That the noise gives them pain, ‘Why can’t the poor dears ‘Put cotton wool in their ears?’ ‘Talking of which,’ Say the bells of Shoreditch, ‘I think we ought ‘To give Ben some support.’ ‘Let’s go on strike daily,’ Say the bells of Old Bailey, ‘It would be very wrong ‘If Big Ben lost his bong.’ ‘And what’s more besides,’ Say the bells of St Bride’s, ‘It’ll all take four years ‘Till his bong reappears.’ So the bells have agreed That in Ben’s hour of need, They will all cease to chime Now until four years’ time.