“Oranges and lemons” say the bells of St Clement’s Make lemonade, but you can’t pay me in fruit When the taxman is coming and I owe him money Your smiles and your promises do me no good
For months you’ve been saying tomorrow’s the day That you’ll pay me and all will turn out for the best But the bills are amassing and tax is increasing Banks are displaying far too much interest
“When will you pay me?” say the bells of old Bailey They’re hungry and clamouring out for your blood But I’ve had enough of your arrogant bluffing When blustering won’t make the bureaucrats budge
Your sheepish smile is not convincing me Of anything you choose to tell me You say you are so much better than anyone else You poor thing, your least sin is deluding yourself
Here comes the candle to light you to bed Here’s come the statement, it’s written in red Here comes the taxman to collect your debt Here’s come the hangman to chop off your head