Originally The Laughing Song by George W Johnson, c. 1895
New words: Marie Walsh, adapted by Catharine Percy Huskisson*
Verse 2 adapted by Cathy Rytmeister, 2018
You won't be fracking long, you won’t be fracking long!
Wherever fracking’s threatened we’ll sing our fracking song!
And if you fracking bankers can’t see there’s something wrong
You think you’re fracking clever, but you won’t be fracking long!
If you’re in the fracking business you really ought to know
That all your fracking progress will be very, very slow
We’ll block your fracking test sites and your fracking engineers
And we’ll bring your fracking business down around your fracking ears
They’re backed by fracking governments both Federal and State
Which isn’t so surprising when you look at who donates
The oil and gas investors know how to pay them off
Yes they’re ‘all in this together just like porkers at the trough
So if you have some money that you’re wanting to invest
Don’t put it into fracking 'cause that leaves the world a mess
There’s sun and wind and water that can power the human race
And every green investor makes the world a safer place
* Catharine Percy Huskisson is a pseudonym for members of the
Liverpool Socialist Singers. The choir rehearses at the junction of
three streets bearing those names.