Ten Little Kingdoms

'One United Kingdom they fancied wouldn’t do.
To please some grumbling Irishmen they split it in two.
Two little kingdoms, but then the Scots, you see, Claimed their ancient throne
and rights, then there were three.
Three little kingdoms but then one more,
For Welshmen claimed a Parliament and then there were four.
Four little kingdoms wouldn’t do it all!
One of them was too big; the others were too small.'
And this is the price we’ll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'Divide and conquer is the game we play.'
And this is the price we’ll pay.
'All across Great Britain ancient hates revived.
Cornwall wants to rule herself, and then there were five.
Five little kingdoms, but London in a fix,
Raised the 'Southern English' flag and then there were six.
Six little kingdoms, the 'Home Rule' heaven,
Caused a stirring in the West, and then there were seven.
Seven little kingdoms, Northmen wouldn’t wait,
Hailed Northumbria and then there were eight.'
And this is the price we’ll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'A house divided simply cannot stand.'
And this is the price we’ll pay.
'And the towns one may visit via the Eastern Counties line,
Formed East Anglia and then there were nine.
Nine little kingdoms, the midlands people then
Called themselves a parliament, and then there were ten.
Ten little kingdoms never could agree,
How to work together and so they went free.
Ten little kingdoms to weak to stand alone,
A foreign nation conquered them and then they were gone.'
And this is the price we’ll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'Devolution is the devil’s ploy.'
And this is the price we’ll pay.