Whacked whacks that were heard for miles up and down.
For men must work and women must clean
And the carpet be beaten, no matter how mean,
While neighbours do the bossing.
Three housewives leaned out of their windows raised
Of their windows raised where the light streamed in
And they scrubbed and scrubbed till their heads grew dazed,
And their ears were filled with a horrible din;
For pots will fall and kettles go bang,
And boilers refuse in the attic to hang,