Jack Abramoff meets Robert Burns

This Robert Burns lament for the demise of Scots sovereignty must date from around the Act of Union of 1707, though the Slangwhanger-in-Chief's grasp of Burns' dates is limp at best. In view of the national disgrace brought upon us by the Republican culture of corruption, it has grimly been rewritten to reflect current conditions in the United States of America. Also here is a possibly-unsuccessful attempt to make available the haunting audio version of the original poem performed by ur-folk-rockers Steeleye Span (with Maddy Prior's voice floating atop the mix "like clouds over fields of May" to quote Patrick Kavanagh.)

PARCEL OF ROGUES
By Robert Burns (as amended)

Fareweel to a' our freedom’s fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory!
Fareweel ev'n to the free man’s name.
Sae famed in human story!
Now cash rins over Congress’ land,
An' stocks rin thro’ the rich hand,
To mark where money's province stands --
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

2.
What force or guile could not subdue
Thro' many warlike ages
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor's wages.
The foreign foe we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But lobby gold has been our bane --
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

3.
O, would, ere I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay
Wi' Debs and loyal LaFollette!
But pith and power, till my last hour
I'll mak this declaration --
'We're bought and sold for lobby gold'--
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!