Half a budget half a budget,
Half a budget downward,
All in the valley of Default
Rode the one forty four;
'Forward, the Defunders Brigade!
Charge for the funds' he said:
Into the valley of Default
Rode the one forty four.
'Forward, the Defunders Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Default
Rode the one forty four.
Ballots to right of them,
Ballots to left of them,
Ballots in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with talk and sign,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Default,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the one forty four.
Flash'd all their arguments bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Arguing with the veterans there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the media-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Teapartier & Fool
Reel'd from the reality-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the one forty four.
Ballots to right of them,
Ballots to left of them,
Ballots behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with talk and sign,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Default,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of one forty four.
When will their memory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Replace the Defunders Brigade,
Foolish one forty four!