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CARNIVAL OF THE HUMAN ANIMALS<br />
By Michael Leunig, 2007.<br />
1. PROLOGUE.<br />
When human beings began to walk<br />
Upon hind legs and learned to talk<br />
And say, “We are no longer creatures …”<br />
They covered up their natural features<br />
And set about becoming clever –<br />
Enough to ruin the earth forever.<br />
And as sophistication grew<br />
The world became a human zoo.<br />
Where human types in many cages,<br />
Sang their songs on little stages<br />
Staring sadly through the bars<br />
Towards the distant moon and stars.<br />
So lend your ears and come with me<br />
Into this weird menagerie.<br />
2. PRESIDENTS AND PRIME MINISTERS. (LION)<br />
Presidents and Prime Ministers are magnificent creatures;<br />
They’re magnificent at making speeches.<br />
Which tell us of our national glory<br />
The stirring and redeeming story<br />
That we are good and the others bad<br />
That we are happy – the others sad<br />
Then having said these wondrous things<br />
Our leaders stand like queens and kings<br />
So noble, truthful, just and wise.<br />
That tears of gladness fill our eyes.<br />
Until, upon election day<br />
We vote and have them flushed away.<br />
PROGRAM / PROGRAM<br />
3. THE COMMON PERSON. (ROOSTER)<br />
Now let’s imagine if we can<br />
A fanfare for the common man:<br />
Bright and bold and lyrical –<br />
Perhaps that’s too satirical –<br />
If we pause to contemplate<br />
The common person’s current state<br />
Considering the simple facts<br />
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