The world Turned upside down - wikipedia The world Turned upside down For the 1975 song, see Diggers ' Song. For the 2015 song from the musical Hamilton, see Yorktown ( The World Turned Upside Down ). For the 1972 book, see Christopher Hill ( historian ). Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown by John Trumbull, ( depiction of 1781 event ). `` The World Turned Upside Down '' is an English ballad. It was first published on a broadside in the middle of the 1640s as a protest against the policies of Parliament relating to the celebration of Christmas. Parliament believed the holiday should be a solemn occasion, and outlawed traditional English Christmas celebrations. There are several versions of the lyrics. It is sung to the tune of another ballad, `` When the king enjoys his own again ''. According to American legend, the British army band under Lord Cornwallis played this tune when they surrendered after the Siege of Yorktown ( 1781 ). Customarily, the British army would have played an American or French tune in tribute to the victors, but General Washington refused them the honours of war and insisted that they play `` a British or German march. '' Although American history textbooks continue to propagate the legend, the story may have been apocryphal as it was added a century after the surrender. Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Recordings 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Lyrics The following is the text found in the Thomason Tracts ( 669. f. 10 ( 47 ) ), dated 8 April 1646. The World Turned Upside Down ( To the Tune of, When the King enioys his own again. ) Listen to me and you shall hear, news hath not been this thousand year : Since Herod, Caesar, and many more, you never heard the like before. Holy - dayes are despis 'd, new fashions are devis 'd. Old Christmas is kickt out of Town. Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. The wise men did rejoyce to see our Savior Christs Nativity : The Angels did good tidings bring, the Sheepheards did rejoyce and sing. Let all honest men, take example by them. Why should we from good Laws be bound ? Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. Command is given, we must obey, and quite forget old Christmas day : Kill a thousand men, or a Town regain, we will give thanks and praise amain. The wine pot shall clinke, we will feast and drinke. And then strange motions will abound. Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. Our Lords and Knights, and Gentry too, doe mean old fashions to forgoe : They set a porter at the gate, that none must enter in thereat. They count it a sin, when poor people come in. Hospitality it selfe is drown 'd. Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. The serving men doe sit and whine, and thinke it long ere dinner time : The Butler 's still out of the way, or else my Lady keeps the key, The poor old cook, in the larder doth look, Where is no goodnesse to be found, Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. To conclude, I'le tell you news that 's right, Christmas was kil 'd at Naseby fight : Charity was slain at that same time, Jack Tell troth too, a friend of mine, Likewise then did die, rost beef and shred pie, Pig, Goose and Capon no quarter found. Yet let 's be content, and the times lament, you see the world turn 'd upside down. Recordings This song was recorded by Maddy Prior with The Carnival Band on their album Hang Up Sorrow and Care. A different song with the same title was written by Leon Rosselson, and made popular by Billy Bragg. The song is referenced in the novel Burr by Gore Vidal. This song is referenced in the Broadway Musical Hamilton in the song `` Yorktown ( The World Turned Upside Down ) '' See also English Civil War References Jump up ^ Olivercromwell.org Jump up ^ `` Yorktown is Won - Cornwallis ' sword is delivered to American Forces - The World Turned Upside Down ''. Yorktown, Virginia : Public Broadcasting Service. October 19, 1781. Jump up ^ `` Surrender of the British General Cornwallis to the Americans, October 19, 1781 ''. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Article 3 states that : `` the garrison of York will march out to a place to be appointed in front of the posts, at two o'clock precisely, with shouldered arms, colors cased, and drums beating a British or German march. They are then to ground their arms, and return to their encampments, where they will remain until they are dispatched to the places of their destination. '' Jump up ^ Kennedy, David ; Cohen, Lizabeth ( 2015 ). The American Pageant. Cengage Learning. p. 153. Cornwallis surrendered his entire force of seven thousand men on October 19, 1781, as his band appropriately played `` The World Turn 'd Upside Down. '' Jump up ^ `` Cornwallis ' Surrender ''. Visiting Yorktown.com. American tradition has it that the British song played was `` The World Turned Upside Down. '' However, there was no historical record of which song or songs were played by the band. The account of it being that particular song was added to the historical record almost a 100 years after the event. Jump up ^ http://www.lukehistory.com/ballads/worldup.html The World Turned Upside Down External links The World Turned Upside Down Other versions On a March Allegedly Played by the British at Yorktown Christmas abolished ! Acts 17 : 1 - 9 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_World_Turned_Upside_Down&oldid=816608164 '' Categories : Traditional ballads English folk songs Protest songs Year of song unknown Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Edit links This page was last edited on 22 December 2017, at 13 : 08. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: why did the british play the song the world turned upside down
Answer: as a protest against the policies of Parliament relating to the celebration of Christmas