We learned this little gem of a song from an unlikely source… the English punk rock band Chumbawumba, most famous for their 1997 hit Tubthumping (known colloquially as “I Get Knocked Down”). In addition to their punk rock and pop music, Chumbawumba also released a really excellent album of mostly vocal arrangements called English Rebel Songs 1381-1984, which is (as the title suggests) songs of political protest from throughout England’s history. A lot of early inspiration for our Song on the Times project (including the title track itself) were songs we learned from that album!
The World Turned Upside Down is a somewhat mysterious piece. There are many songs with the same title–a version of the text dating to the 1640s talks about Parliament outlawing Christmas celebrations (they thought Christmas should be a solemn occasion), which has been recorded by Maddy Prior and many others. Billy Bragg popularized another version written by Leon Rosselson that described the struggles of the Diggers. It’s even referenced in the musical Hamilton!
However, none of those versions appear to be related to this text or melody, and we haven’t been able to find anything definitive about the origins of this version other than the Chumbawumba liner notes, which say it comes from the 1870s. The sentiment, however, is timeless. As we often do, we modified a few lyrics to make the song’s message more universal and inclusive for today’s singing. Enjoy!
The World Turned Upside Down
Through eating too much supper before I went to bed
Strange thoughts came o’er my slumber, strange thoughts came in my head.
This world was topsy turvy, and people of renown
Were doing the most peculiar things as the world turned upside down
I dreamt all folk were equals and there were no starving poor
And nations never did quarrel nor never went to war
Oh what a curious vision! And yet a question sounds:
Is it in dreams or waking that the world’s turned upside down?
