When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing The announced it over the wireless New Years Eve at midnight It was all over the papers That Britain was now tongue-tied Maybe they did it out of kindness Maybe they did it out of politeness TV stopped giving away prizes There was radio silence Trade union meetings School assembly choirs On every football terrace Even the WI When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing Shut your mouth, get out of my face I'll blow you away if you invade my space Stay off of my land, turn your stereo down When you drive through the village won't you please slow down? There are traps in the grass for the working-class So stick to the path, go home, have a bath All the farms have alarms, all the hills have eyes So for God's sake stay out of the countryside When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing La, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la They said it would be all over by Christmas There'd be a special carol service But Christmas came and went We were much too nervous I made us a time capsule One day they know how we feel I took our favourite record And buried it in a field When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing When Britain refused to sing