O, the world is overburdened
With the idle and the rich!
They bask up in the sunshine
While we plod in the ditch;
But, zounds! we’ll put some mettle
In their fingers and their thumbs,
For we’ll turn things upside down, my lads,
When the Revolution comes!
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
They will wonder what has happened
When we turn things upside down.

Plain living may be wholesome,
And wondrous virtues may
Abound beneath ribs scant of flesh
And pockets scant of pay.
It may be poverty is best
If rightly understood;
But we’ll turn things upside down, my lads!
We don’t want all the good!
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
May they thrive on their philosophy
When we turn things upside down.

They’re never done extolling
The nobility of work;
But, the knaves! They always take good care
Their share of toil to shirk,
Do they send their sons and daughters
To the workshop or the mill?
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down, my lads,
It will change their tune, it will!
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
They can practise all their precepts
When we turn things upside down.

They live in splendid mansions,
And we in hovels vile;
Their lives are spent in pleasure,
And ours in cheerless toil;
They jaunt about the world, while we
Are pinned down in one spot;
But we’ll turn things upside down, we will!
It’s time, my lads, is it not?
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Life then may be worth living,
When we turn things upside down.

Then let us, lads, right lustily
Support the glorious cause,
To overturn the whole vile lot
With their lying and their laws.
And let us all together
Put our shoulders to the wheel,
That will turn things upside down, hurrah!
All for the Commonweal.
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
Oh, we’ll turn things upside down,
The world will be far better
When we turn things upside down.