Remember, remember the Fifth of November

[matgb]

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
A penny loaf to feed the Pope
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah hoorah!

Of course, the anti-catholic/anti-popery vitriol is a little, well, disturbing by todays tastes (to say the least), but the fear of tyranny was well founded, if not actually as linked to catholicism as propagandists led the populace to believe. England's never really supported tyrants for too long, and we do tend to like a good party...

Comments

[matgb]

Was watching it last night, knew it was set around the 5th, but had forgotten the opening scenes were late night Nov 4th, so it was actually just past midnight when I watched the bit where he blows up the Bailey at midnight.

But yeah, I do still like it, really ought to get the book.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

I have the book somewhere. You know, ifn youse wanting to save money.

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

The book is about a million times better. However, its political tendency is completely different - the film is essentially US-liberal, but the book is anarchist all the way. The film is against tyranny, the book against government. It's also one of the greatest achievements in comic art.