No wonder that butter be a shilling a pound, See the rich farmers' daughters how they ride up and down If you ask them the reason they'll say, "Boney alas! There's a French war, and the cows have no grass." Honesty's all out of fashion These are the rigs of the times Times me boys These are the rigs of the times. And here's to the butcher, I must bring him in, Charges four pence a pound and yet thinks it no sin. Slaps his thumb on the scales and makes it go down He declares it's full weight yet it lacks half a pound. Honesty's all out of fashion ... O the next is the landlord, I must bring him in, Charges four pence a quart and yet thinks it no sin. When he do bring it in, the measure is short: And the top of the pint is all covered in froth. Honesty's all out of fashion ... And here's to the baker, I must bring him in, Charges a ha'penny a loaf and yet thinks it no sin. When he do bring it in, it's no bigger than your fist And the top of the loaf has popped off with the yeast. Honesty's all out of fashion ... Now here's to the tailor who skims with our clothes, And here's to the cobbler who pinches our toes, Our belly's all empty, our bodies are bare, No wonder we've reason to curse and to swear. Honesty's all out of fashion ... Now the very best thing that I could find Is to toss them all up in a high gale of wind. And when they get up, the cloud it will burst, And the biggest old rascal come tumbling down first. Honesty's all out of fashion ...
Well first it was spending too much on campaigns, Saying out with the foreigners, the EU's to blame. Using Facebook to sell propaganda to us And a ten foot high lie on the side of a bus. It seems honesty's all out of fashion These are the rigs of the times Times me boys These are the rigs of the times. Let's take Brexit and COVID-19 on the chin; Every issue's a battle that we're going to win! Coz its always the billionaire winners who choose The value of life that we all stand to lose. Because honesty's all out of fashion ... Now it's clap to say thanks to the brave NHS. Well we may as well clap to save Tinkerbell next. No more pay for the nurses, no visors or masks, Just millions in contracts for the boys in first class, Singing honesty's all out of fashion ... Here's to all the small businesses falling apart; Living on credit's a delicate art. For three hundred a month on the dole, many thanks, Pay the rent, pay the mortgage: it all pays the banks. Honesty's all out of fashion ... Now the very best dream that we could find Is to pop them all off in a high gale of wind And when they get up there, the cloud it will burst And the biggest old rascals come tumbling down first Singing honesty's all out of fashion ...
recording: Lunatraktors, updated for Brexit/Covid (2021) [YouTube]
recording: Jon Boden, traditional lyrics (2016) [YouTube]
recording and notes: Andy Turner, song history and traditional lyrics (2012) [A Folk Song A Week]
notes: Song history and discography [Mainly Norfolk]