Big Rat, Big Rat

 

 

Big rat, big rat,

Do not gobble our millet !

Three years we have slaved for you,

Yet you take no notice of us.

At last we are going to leave you

And go to that happy land ;

Happy land, happy land,

Where we shall have our place.

 Big rat, big rat,

Do not gobble our corn !

Three years we have slaved for you,

Yet you give us no credit.

At last we are going to leave you

And go to that happy kingdom ;

Happy kingdom, happy kingdom,

Where we shall get our due.

 

  

Big rat, big rat,

Do not eat our rice-shoots !

Three years we have slaved for you.

Yet  you did nothing to reward us.

At last we are going to leave you

And go to those happy borders ;

Happy borders, happy borders

Where no sad songs are sung.

From:  The Book Of Songs, translated from the Chinese by Arthur Waley, New York, Grove Press, 1960.

All images Banksy except below Blek-Le-Rat.