John Agard
ALTERNATIVE ANTHEM
ALTERNATIVE ANTHEM
Put the kettle on
put the kettle on.
It is the British answer
to Armageddon.
Never mind taxes rise
never mind trains are late,
one thing you can be sure of
and that's the kettle, mate.
It's not whether you lose
It's not whether you win
It's whether or not
you've plugged the kettle in.
May the kettle ever hiss
May the kettle ever steam
It is the engine
that drives our nation's dream.
Long live the kettle
that rules over us.
May it be limescale free
and may it never rust.
Sing it on the beaches.
Sing it from the housetops.
The sun may set on empire
but the kettle never stops.
John Agard
John Agard is a national and internationally acclaimed poet, playwright, short story writer, and performer, who over his long career has become known and loved for his playful, witty style and charismatic performances. In 2021, he was awarded the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement for his outstanding contribution to literature, and has previously been awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, th...
ALTERNATIVE ANTHEM
Put the kettle on
put the kettle on.
It is the British answer
to Armageddon.
Never mind taxes rise
never mind trains are late,
one thing you can be sure of
and that's the kettle, mate.
It's not whether you lose
It's not whether you win
It's whether or not
you've plugged the kettle in.
May the kettle ever hiss
May the kettle ever steam
It is the engine
that drives our nation's dream.
Long live the kettle
that rules over us.
May it be limescale free
and may it never rust.
Sing it on the beaches.
Sing it from the housetops.
The sun may set on empire
but the kettle never stops.
ALTERNATIVE ANTHEM
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