Bth

From memory (honest):

The people’s flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold
Their hearts’ blood dyed its every fold

(chorus)
So raise the scarlet standard high
Within its shade we’ll live or die
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
We’ll keep the red flag flying here

Look round, the Frenchman loves its blaze
The sturdy German chants its praise
In Moscow’s vaults its hymns are sung
Chicago joins the swelling throng

(chorus)

It waved above our infant might
When all ahead seemed dark as night
It witnessed many a deed and vow
We must not change its colour now

(chorus)

It well recalls the triumphs past,
It gives the hope of peace at last
The banner bright, the symbol plain
Of human right and human gain

(chorus)

It suits today the weak and base
Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place
To cringe before the rich man’s frown
And haul the sacred emblem down

(chorus)

With heads uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward till we fall
Come dungeons dark or gallows grim
This song shall be our parting hymn

(chorus)

Worth it if nothing else because I learnt a new word (“pelf”, “wealth, esp. ill-gotten wealth”) and the insight into how world politics looked to people in the late 19th Century.

... and I just about know Orion. (My studies weren’t much on the observational side.)

But step one is to apply for my PGCE, so that I can become a teacher and then corrupt all those young minds with reality-based thinking skills. Or something.