LOOK NOW

(Three years later. The offices in Whitehall. Civil servants of all grades)

Staff
Look now, look now, we hate those buggers now in power.
Look now, they show no mercy anywhere
Look now, they want us working every hour.
Look now, look now,
We think it’s most unfair!

Macintosh
I’m Macintosh and I’m in charge
Of this lot here, this so-called staff
A lazy lot, but by and large
We get things done and have a laugh!
The hours are long, but they get overtime.

It’s the same all over Whitehall.
The pay we get is what we’d call a crime;
End of the day it’s bugger all!
They’re all poor just like me.
Wait and see, wait and see!

Staff
Look now, it’s time we had a cup of tea
Look now, look now, and even that’s not free!

Tea Lady
What you doin’ here?
Got to wait your turn.
You look new to me, young miss,
But you’ll learn soon enough.

Young staff member
Don’t be like that, dear,
Looking at your urn.
Never drink hot drinks myself,
So couldn’t give a stuff!

Tea Lady
Talk like that to me!
Been ‘ere thirty years!
Better mind your manners
Or you’ll find yourself in tears!

Staff member
Ladies if you please
Let us have some calm.
Enough of all this chatter
And you know you mean no harm.

Staff
Where does it all stop?
What can we arrange?
Something’s got to happen soon and
Something’s got to change…
Got to change, got to change, got to change,
Got to change, got to change, got to change.

Thomas
Who is liable for this mess?
Which is the party we can blame?

Mark
It’s hard to say, as well you know,
Not just the one, they’re all the same!

Staff
We all work too hard
And for no reward.
Now it’s time we played our card;
We’re all of one accord.

Staff member
We’re all of one accord.

Staff
One accord, one accord, one accord…

Staff
One accord, one accord, one accord…

Mark
Our union leader isn’t well,
Won’t be back for quite some time.

Thomas
There’s so much anger in this place
Pay and conditions, they’re the crime.
The parties take no heed, they’re all alike.
How long before we go on strike!

Macintosh
Some members of the Cabinet
Are on the take and making claims
For things they shouldn’t, and I bet
It won’t be long till names are named.
There’s quite a bunch
Of lying cronies there.
Claiming for houses out of town,
Who knows what else! There’s scandal everywhere.
Who’s kidding who? And we don’t scare.
We all care! We’re not done!
We’re all one, we’re all one!

Staff
Look now, look now, we’re all as one and all alike.
Look now, look now, and be prepared to strike!