Another Piece of Red

I was reading in New Zealand about Ian Smith

I was thinking they were lucky to be rid of that shit.

The people here can still believe in stiff lips and stiff collars

They're speaking deals in English

But they're making deals in dollars.

They're breaking up an empire

Nobody's buying British

They're calling for an umpire

Nobody's playing cricket

The flags are coming down everybody stands saluting

But somewhere in the distance, I can hear somebody shooting.

And another piece of red left my atlas today.

It's so long Hong Kong and no more Singapore

Those steaming nights of Malta

Goodbye Gibraltar

I'll give you arms for Africa

I'm hungry for India

The sun's set on Australia

And vive le Canada

Theyre breaking up an empire

Nobody's buying British

Calling for an umpire

It really isn't cricket

The flags are coming down

There's a minimum of looting

Somewhere in the distance I can see somebody shooting

And another piece of red left my atlas today.........