b
Verses in italics follow the second part. Hear the original song here. This new song gives a simplified version. That applies especially to the second part within the italics.
c
There's more work to be done but here's the framework:
d
Hyphenated words indicate compression in order to fit the beat.
e
You might try "Josher" at the battle ......
f
Plenty of places for animation. Your song leader will explain after the first run through.
1 The song
1a
Joshua at the Battle of Red Tape Square
Red Tape Square, Red Tape Square
Joshua is a carer caught in Red Tape Square
And the forms came tumbling down
1b
You can talk about the folk at Red Tape Square
You can talk about ‘em all the time
They all hide behind their great big desks
And often this song don’t rhyme
2a
Joshua is a carer in need of care
In need of care, in need of care
His-caree’s-suffering-‘cos-of-forms everywhere
And the forms keep tumbling down
2b
You try to phone the folk at Red Tape Square
You phone when your time is tight
They’re always busy at Red Tape Square
So you phone ‘em in the night
3a
The forms are-always twenty pages long
From Red Tape Square, Red Tape Square
Joshua’s-brain-is-like-a-mad March hare's
And the forms keep tumbling down
3b
He looks for the form known as K29
He can only find 28
He looks at the date on K29
Too late! Too late! Too late!
4a
Joshua keeps looking at the length of this song
Just how long, just how long
Someone shouts-“You’re-singing-it all too wrong.”
But the forms keep tumbling down
4b
Joshua replies that there’s someone here
Who doesn’t look like one of us
He’s checking up, but it aint fair
He’s out to make a fuss
new tune
(shrill voice) I tawt I taw a bureaucrat a creeping up on me original song here
I did I taw his bowler hat as plain as it could be
(deep voice) I am that big fat bureaucrat, Sylvester is my name
I sent you far too many forms, it’s them I now do claim
return to Joshua tune
We all scream at him “Get-on-your-bike”
Back-to-the-Square, back to Red Square
He says it’s not-at-all what he likes
But the forms keep tumbling down
5b
When he’s gone-we-all-agree-on something clever
The forms have got to stop
Red Square hears and soon replies
But never, never, never!
6
The lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
And the trumpets began to sound
And Joshua commanded, "Now carers, shout!"
Just forms came tumbling down
pagetop here to songsheet
2 The original song source
See how it starts with the chorus. That's what people remember.
Chorus:
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho;
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumbling down.
1.
You may talk about your kings of Gideon,
You may talk about your men of Saul
But there's none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho.
Chorus:
2.
"I command you and obey you must;
You just march straight to those city walls
And the walls will turn to dust."
Chorus:
3. Straight up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand,
"Go blow that ram's horn," Joshua cried,
"For the battle is in my hand."
Chorus:
4.