Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers: “The Black Rats of London” - 9/28/16 - Portland, OR
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers performing “Black Rats Of London” on September 28, 2016 in Portland, OR. Enjoy downloads from other live shows at brucehornsbylive.com
Lyrics:
In our beautiful pursuit of manifest destiny
We give ourselves great credit, we thank the Good Lord so earnestly
But something’s been omitted by the writers of history
Now stand up all unsung heroes who made this world for you and meNight crawlers cleared the forests of seedlings, nuts and leaves
And everything everywhere dried up and the natives got the dry heaves
Mosquitoes brought malaria and bees brought their hives
And the Indians got less scarier with yellow skin and eyesHoorah, hooray, the black rats of London
They crossed the sea for you and me
Let’s raise a glass so thankfullyHail, hail, hooray, the black rats of London
Made the long treacherous passage to
Spread their natural juices, a gift to you, a gift to youParasites decimated the red army of Cornwallis and his flock
Standing weakly on Yorktown battlefield with measles and small pox
Horses, hogs, chickens and dogs and John Rolfe’s prized worms
Divine intervention, bacterial strains from imported English dirtHoorah, hooray, the black rats of London
They crossed the sea for you and me
Let’s raise a glass so thankfullyHail, hail, hooray, the black rats of London
Made the long treacherous passage to
Spread their natural juices, a gift to youNatural juices, yes a gift to you
Hoorah, hooray, hoorah, hooray
Hail, hail, hooray, hoorah, hooray, ray, ray, rayHoorah, hooray, the black rats of London
They crossed the sea for you and me
Let’s raise a glass so thankfullyHail, hail, hooray, the black rats of London
They made the long treacherous passage to
Spread their natural juices, a gift to youThe black rats of London
They crossed the sea for you and me
Let’s raise a glass so thankfullyHail, hooray, the black rats of London
Made the long treacherous passage to
Spread their natural juices, a gift to you, yes a gift to youPat yourself on the back, you did a great job
And the black rats of London made such a glorious, vicious mob
Sorry Renee it’s just not true, parameciums have feelings tooWhere were the black rats when we needed them the most?
There were slave owners to infect
And the Joe Mengeles of the American West