(not) totally unconnected, and first verse missing (if ever there was one) about a fire. This recitation.

...
Suddenly, though the smoke, on the second floor,
We saw a face, a human face,
Framed in a window.
And it cried "Help! Help! Save Me! Save me!"
So we stretched out our bit of tarpaulin and said:
"If you jump into this here tarpaulin, you'll be safe."
And would he jump?
No.
And the flames went up higher & higher.

Suddenly, though the smoke, on the third floor,
We saw a face, a human face,
Framed in a window.
And it cried "Help! Help! Save Me! Save me!"
So we stretched out our bit of tarpaulin and said:
"If you jump into this here tarpaulin, you'll be safe."
And would he jump?
No.
And the flames went up higher & higher.

Suddenly, though the smoke, on the fourth floor,
We saw a face, a human face,
Framed in a window.
And it cried "Help! Help! Save Me! Save me!"
So we stretched out our bit of tarpaulin and said:
"If you jump into this here tarpaulin, you'll be safe."
And would he jump?
No.
And the flames went up higher & higher.


... (continued for as long as you can get away with, by now people should be joining in!)

Suddenly, though the smoke, on the top floor,
We saw a face, a human face,
Framed in a window.
And it cried "Help! Help! Save Me! Save me!"
So we stretched out our bit of tarpaulin and said:
"If you jump into this here tarpaulin, you'll be safe."
And would he jump?
Yes.
And he broke his bleedin' neck!.