(1)
Ogre:
Halfcrown, halfpenny have I banned
Sixpence, shilling, penny - and -
Inflation my achievement crowns:
For soon we'll only need the pounds.
Farthing, quinea, bob and crown,
Groat and noble - put them down!
All old money's out of bounds,
And soon we'll only need the pounds.
Children:
Broad and angel, bawbee, bob
Shall no longer have a job -
Sterling, sov'reigns away he hounds
And soon we'll only need the pounds.
Ogre (changing tempo):
You've heard of China Dollars,
Of wooden nickels round;
Our new coin will surpass them all:
The Aluminium Pound!
(2)
Ogre's chant:
Inch and foot and ounce and ton,
See them vanish, one by one;
Pound and yard and rod and stone
Not one will I leave alone!
Gill and pint and perch and pole,
Out I cast them from my soul,
Gallon, bushel, acre, mile -
See my happy metric smile!
Furlong, chain and quarter and
Hundredweight and point and hand,
Knot and cable, fathom, clove,
Not a scruple left, by Jove!
Drachm and minim, chaldron, sack
To my metric gods I pack;
Pennyweight and grain and peck
Cast I from around my neck.
(3)
Children's chant (unfinished):
Leave our perches, poles and rods,
We'll not obey your metric gods,
Don't pinch our inch, it is so neat -
And keep your great hands off our feet!