The Bunting and the Crown

Great British tribes and traders all

The sovereign state declares

Go back across your border wall

And count remaining wares

For we did trade while kings were made

Exulting in our union

But now is gentle autumn sent

For respite and communion

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown

The brave and strong we muse upon

In legend and libation

The proud and fond who court beyond

The boundaries of nation

Now history does welcome thee

Take leave to be a lover

And cleave the sea in unity

With sister and with brother

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown

Now China's maid does stitch and braid

With torchlight in her eye

And babes from Boh to Bangalore

From deprivation cry

See how our greed with mortal speed

Does build the poor a pyre

We might have forged the world anew

In gold Olympic fire

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown

The white and black and the Union Jack

May be to some the saviour

But dreams are laid in every shade

I pray to fortune's favour

If what we had did make us glad

When we did race together

Let stories run in every tongue

And love shall live forever

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown

So lay away your livery

Forsake and cut them down

The colours of our rivalry

The bunting and the crown