The Modern Banker (tune adapted from "John Brown's Body")

I am a modern banker and I make the world go round
I deal in gold and dollars; I buy and sell your pound
A more important personage is nowhere to be found
But I can't hear the people sing…

You're a bunch of greedy bankers
With your multi-million bonus in your foreign bank account
You've bought the politicians and you think you rule the world
But we're going to pull you down.

When sitting in my country house I watch the Sky TV
They say the world depends on "honest 'venturers" like me.
I think I'll close the mortgage market down to set my money free
And I can't hear the homeless sing…

I like driving in my 'Roller' right through the factory gate
I work with market forces so there's no room for debate
Production has to move offshore to build my grand estate
And I can't hear the workers sing…

I don't want smart-ass workers so I'll change the way they're taught
The schools and universities can easily be bought
I'll sack the teachers, cut the funds, I'll teach belief not thought
And I can't hear the children sing...

The NHS will have to go, I own a private scheme
I'll rationalise provision and put in a new regime
Healthcare for all will be a long-forgotten, silly dream
And I can't hear the patients sing…

One morning in my private lift, I don't know how or why
I pressed a different button on my way to sell and buy
I stepped out on the roof – it was open to the sky
And I could hear the whole world sing…

Sometimes I insert a topical verse if the mood takes me.
For instance -

My name is Nigel Farage - high finance is my trade
I thought I'd rule the country with the money that I'd made
So I joined the nutty nazis but I couldn't make the grade
I soon heard the voters sing..

Rosie Upton used the song in a union singing workshop last year. One of the group was a Swindon teacher who passed it on to her class. I'm told it was soon being sung in a Swindon playground with possibly a slight 'improvement' to the first line of the chorus.

Use at will

Pete