Goodbye Merrye Olde England

Gone, long gone - cast into the wistful yearning of yesteryear the halcyon days of reminiscence and longing of summertimes and certainties, of niceties and neighbours and the joy of friendships that were built of stronger stuff Gone, long gone – Words of wisdom from the wise and the weary The sanctuary afforded to the fearful child within the earnest custody of the household of hope and the tight family circle where retreat was absolute Gone, long gone – The sense of belonging to a sympathetic world Benevolence and compassion lived in every home Good will to all men, every day Malevolence and cruelty, exception - not the rule Crimes happened to other folk Gone, long gone – The handshake was king and contracts were to be honoured Trust was a byword for Politician and Banker Good people were all those we knew And bad guys were those wore black hats in the movies Or read about in the papers Gone, long gone – Prayers at school and teachers with Bibles on their desks Learning of a God who loved the little children It helped us sleep at night And lightened the crippling load of Mums and Dads who strove to give us their all Gone, long gone – the hope of a future long promised by governments who have sold our birthright into slavery and frittered our Faith away What future for a Christian country where 'Christ' is nought But a post-watershed curse?