Horrible Histories first began as a book series, written by Terry Deary. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Horrible Histories first began as a book series, written by Terry Deary. Then, in 2009, it was decided that it was to be made a children's comedy, historical sketch show. In 2011, the show had become very successful and has won many awards, such as Best Sketch Show at the BAFTAs. Series 4 began in April 2012, and the writers have already started writing series 5. The stars of the show feature Mathew Baynton (Gavin & Stacey), Ben Willbond, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, as well as many others.

Work Terrible Work
Horrible Histories Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Horrible Histories:

Boudicca Gonna cause a stink Won't be the first to blink I'm not…
Celtic Boast Battle (Talking) Year.! 100 Roman soliders lay dead on the beach,…
Cleopatra Ra, ra, Cleopatra! Famous beauty coming at ya! Ra ra, patra …
Divorced Beheaded Died Divorced, beheaded and died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. I…
Hieroglyphics Settle down, class Now you've passed Your grade one pyramid …
I'm a Knight I'm a knight, I'm a knight and I'm a knight And…
Pachacuti I'm Pachacuti, the Incan lord All other tribes dreaded My na…
Richard III I was sure that you'd love me To that hope, I…
The Borgia Family Lucrezia, Giovanni, Gioffre and Cesare Italian barmy army, T…

Victorian Inventions Twas the age of queen Victoria A period notorious So many br…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

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Comments from YouTube:

USSResolute

4y↑280

Can we just pause a moment and consider just how amazingly well choreographed and syncopated this particular snippet actually is? Man, whoever wrote these should be working on full length features. Bravissimo! What artists! What performers! Better than Newsies.

Lil' Sunny

@Sara R i mean this is pretty much just a different version of Food glorious Food from Oliver! which is funny because it was also in Victorian times iirc.

Kay Collarfeild

@Sara R I mean a lot of songs are covers, idk if all of them are

Ns Squared

4y↑2

Doesn't Laurence Rickard write a lot of them?

A. Minibot

3y↑137

1:47 Mat's like, visibly breaking here, right? I know he's the Worst for corpsing in all the bloopers, but apparently this shot was literally impossible for him to get through without laughing if that's the take they went with. (And now I've noticed I can't watch it without laughing either).

Estel J

2y↑7

Not only Mat but also the little girl :D

blackkakari

10y↑381

So this is how Walmart has such low prices.

Kris Rhood

Not to mention sheltered workshops

SCP-173

3y↑1

More like amazon

Lee Chowning

4y↑3

China, India, and about all the 3rd world. And if the lockdown keeps up, 2nd world too.

Zelda Williams

4y↑2

😂😂😂 Yessum!🤭

2 More Replies...

BenjaminGessel

10y↑295

Suddenly, my childhood spent in public schools doesn't seem too bad after all... :D

BenjaminGessel

@Roman Zupnyk Uuuuhh...

You might be misunderstanding my comment a bit. Or you are being funny... 😁😁😁

Raine A

3y↑2

I used to prefer being at school more than at home because the treatment I had at home was like the treatment factory workers had in the victorian era

Luv Bluey&Bingo Heeler

@Ethan Laffitte
Most kids hate school.

Ethan Laffitte

Muminah Zahid ahh, still good tho

Kick Layout Fosse !

4y↑1

I love school

2 More Replies...

General Horse

10y↑301

i'd reckon there are countless kids in Bangladesh and other parts of the third world singing this same song right now

PrincessofEllabur

1y↑1

@snowangelnc I said that the sitation of that shirt factory which copllased all those years ago is a repeat in a sense- of the Shirt Factory which caught on Fire in the 1900s in NYC

akm rahman

3y↑3

I'm from Bangladesh

snowangelnc

3y↑5

Yes. That's a good reminder for those that look at these moments in history and think to themselves about how they never would have tolerated such a thing if they had lived back then.

C G

4y↑4

Jea

Goodnight- Moon

4y↑7

General Horse
Sadly, probably yes. If they’ve even seen it

misscrazytalk

13y↑138

Everytime Matt comes on the screen I just think wow! I wonder if he knows he has such a huge fan base!

bankrobber 69

4y↑1

lmao yesh

Polly Jean Harrison

12y↑98

'pins make you work faster' love it, also how mat baynton sings 'a weeks wages' brilliant, just brilliant :)

bankrobber 69

yeshhh

Bibbity Booper

4y↑43

Vile Victorians is my absolute favourite era on horrible histories. Also they all look great in suits and waistcoats.

shastapurpledaisy

4y↑75

Hard to believe that some of our great great grandparents had to do this as children. Not that long ago really :’(

Kris Rhood

3y↑3

Also the sheltered workshops where people are paid pennies an hour

shastapurpledaisy

3y↑9

@Kris Rhood I feel horrible for forgetting that. It’s so easy to turn a blind eye when it’s not happening in your country :’(

Kris Rhood

3y↑5

There are still places where this goes on

misscrazytalk

13y↑14

This has rapidly become my favourite song so far because 1. Matt looks VERY dashing! 2. Its so darn catchy!

Rachel Thornley

13y↑27

For all you 'children' out there missing the whole point of this song; it is a parody of Food Glorious Food from the Lionel Bart musical Oliver. This is a genius piece of music from HH

Kai Does Things

12y↑11

Yeah, actually. Cuz, even when I was younger, I found stuff like this kinda exciting to think about. Plus with the way that it teaches us, it's a lot more exciting and interesting than sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher go on about it. I played a victorian workhouse kid in a school play and actually found it pretty cool. I know that the labor in victorian times was a terrible thing, but this is a great way to get the message across. PS, major backfire with the thumbs up thing, dude.

Kissa Gardezi

4y↑77

I wonder how hard it was find this many kids who were good on camera

Sailor skie

2y↑1

@Kyle Brown you have a point, though the choreography couldn’t have been that easy, considering the age of the kids (they look to be under 10)

Kyle Brown

3y↑6

It shouldn't have been that hard. Only 6 of them had to act for the camera, the rest were in the background.

Chantelley Pride

12y↑37

Love how Mat is evil in this clip, but love him anyway =)

Abbie Dewbrey

12y↑14

I love how the kid says 'Get sacked by the master' and the other kid who says 'to cry is what we're taught, Boo hoo'

Meghan

4y↑111

Everyone is talking about how cute Mat is....am I the only one crushing like crazy on Ben?!😂

Natalie Barrow

Defo not

unoriginally anonyoumus

Beth Steele

Completely agree ! He needs more rep !

The Ravaloxian Thunderbird

They're all great in Victorian clothes.

Emman Lineses

Same

11 More Replies...

EllieTurnip

13y↑57

2:36 when Ben says "demeaning" and gives a small smirk, oh my.

Stuart Green

13y↑20

I dont care how bad Matt looks, I will still love his look. Love u matt! :DD

♡•emma•♡

3y↑11

This is a musical masterpiece

Earthbound Fan

4y↑38

When I was 9 my sister saw this song and said "See? You take school for granted!"

khor kienjoo

4y↑2

Wish we went to...
Schooooooool!

Lizzie Goodman

12y↑60

"to stop machines and get you out will cost you a week WAAGESSS" love it and woahhh matt <3

CatherineDotUK

press 6 to repeat it

Madabbafan

4y↑1

That was if the employer thought it was worth getting you out.

bankrobber 69

4y↑1

Hate to be pedantic, but it's Mat

Gordon Freeman

12y↑6

First day of work at a shopping center and i start singing this and then a customer randomly came to me and sang along. :3

zoezebra1

13y↑29

Matt's facial hair <3 He could look good in anything- He even looks good dressed as a woman :P

JavertRA

2y↑1

He played Emperor Elagabalus in the Rotten Romans sketches - Elagabalus was believed to have been a transvestite in real life and I've heard a number of HH fans wondering why they didn't take the opportunity to dress Matthew Baynton up similarly.

stan loona

Ns Squared its fine :)

Ns Squared

As long as he leaves his shirt on. Sorry Matt crushers.

misscrazytalk

13y↑7

I simply cannot stop watching! :P When Matt says dangerous and demeaning...... MELT!

Lofty

13y↑19

i love the way mat sings " a weeks wages" hahaha love it <3 xxx

thesilversupporter

12y↑9

The three bosses remind me of the weeping angels from Doctor Who. Do you realise they always seem to get close to the camera all the time? XD

Sammy

Just noticed😂😂

Casparrowrox

13y↑5

Why is it when Mat has a angry atmosphere around him he looks hotter than usual? Or maybe it's just me.... :\

Roomia.

4y↑7

I apologise if this seems very random and dumb but can we just talk about how Larry looks exactly like Abraham Lincoln in this.

Britishtom Lad

4y↑2

Ive been thinking that for years

emma pocock

11y↑2

I love horrible histories it is a great show

BL4Z3 the 3467E

2y↑1

Its always funny to see the 6 acting as evil people like this because i always see them as really nice people

cndvst

13y↑4

In my opinion, this is Matt's 3rd best role: 2nd = Dick Turpin 1st = Charles II AND Elagabalus - I think that's the right actor

z

2y↑1

That little kid is such a good actor

Karl Von Habsburg

11y↑2

This song doesn't make the work sound so terrible... it sounds kinda fun :D

Meg V.

3y↑3

the British are lucky for having this show

Kick Layout Fosse !

4y↑4

I get chills at the school part

Tricorvus

11y↑1

ah the good old days when childhood was idyllic and not stressful like it is today (heavy sarcasm)

weldonwin

12y↑1

It certainly points out to them how lucky they are in this day and age, that they get a chance to actually be kids, rather than packed off by their desperate poor family's to work long hours in a factory, where they stood a very good chance at being killed or maimed and their employers would only get angry because of the disruption to production. I mean, imagine an employer now, docking your wages, because you'd lost a hand in one of the machines in a factory

Alex-Zander Browne

11y↑1

I know this supposed to be terrible but I can't help but the smile mainly due to the steam era

DresdenVisage

12y↑2

This is a legitimately great song!

Kai Does Things

12y

If anything, it makes everyone want him more! It's no fair! (and maybe cuz we all know he's nice in real life)

MsThemuh

12y

Kids today should be grateful. This is what some kids had to do.

Leaf of Yellow

my history teacher showed us this and I’m very interested and also my teachers really nice

Teagan Vaughn

11y

Moral of the story: be nice to your parents about going to school

AverageWatcher

3y↑1

THE WAY MAT SAYS “will cost you our weeks wadges” AAAAA

Eniphesoj90

12y

I agree. I think it's interesting for a child to see how it was to be a child in other era's...

Corey Bennett

11y↑3

I love this song and I'm in love with mat Baynton

Rachel Thornley

13y↑3

@Nascarrrrrrfan - well, yes, that's what I was explaining. Does nobody know anything about Literature and Cinema these days? The musical Oliver is based on Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, which was famous in it's day for highlighting the plight of working-class families and especially pauper children. It is no coincidence that HH used a Dickens scenario to explain Victorian work practices - they obviously had more schooling and education than most of the folk who visit YouTube!!

FD S

10y↑8

2:05 - Dat face :D

Boy12Random

13y↑1

There HAS to be bloopers in this!

Ditta Permata

Yes

CandC Family

this song is what kids think about school

Maria

10y

Ah yes, historical music

Supersnakeboi

1y↑1

We listened to this song during history in year 8 when learning about the Industrial Revolution, we loved it so much that we got the teacher to play it again, what a lesson that was 😂

MababymGames YT

Victorian times :Trap our hands in gages made you wiggle ya fingers: 2020: Plays computer game* Wiggle fingers

misscrazytalk

13y↑1

I wouldn't mind working in a factory if Mat Baynton was my master ;P

Maddey

12y↑1

The girl at 1:47-1:52 is ridiculously lucky!!

Kai Does Things

12y

That's awesome!

AwsoDude

12y↑3

Im a kid and I love it!!

Momstealer

You mean 9

the gangsta sponge

Well not anymore its been 8 years.

Alex-Zander Browne

11y↑1

he's heartless in this but he looks great, in Victorian wear

Sue M

But prior to industrialization, kids worked on the farm or as apprentices for FREE. Kids have always worked and were exposed to dangerous things. We have kids come through my flax processing demonstration. I cannot bring some of my tools as they are so sharp that silly kids would willy nilly bang and get injured and I’d get sued.

BlackUmbreon2023

4y↑2

That's Why they call this era The Vile Victorians

hcmusic101

11y

Why do people have this preconceived notion that the kids in those days were miserable? It was a different time. They didn't know any different. If you ask me it was a better time. Who is anybody to judge people of a different world in a different age.

DarkMagicianGirl247

12y

this is England's weirdest way to educate children...thumbs up if you REALLY think kids will really enjoy a song about child labor

Batnode

Yes we do

Black Batman

3y↑1

My Favourite history song other than we didn't start the fire

Ellie

This song always freaked me out as a kid

Shenice Mathurin

11y↑2

matt you should see your self at the hh prom in the 4 king Georges song and when u winked <3 bravo

Joseph Keetley

12y

i wish there was such a demand for jobs nowadays

Hobbsy37

12y

Am I the only one who thought that the girl at 1:35 who had the cannon ball things looks like a young Morgan Brody (Elisabeth Harnois) from CSI?

Hannah X

13y↑2

pause this at 1:40 and i am the girl at the front!!! so much fun and met matt!! "i look fabulous even matt said i did,personly!!"

Life through Cora's lens

Oh. My. Gosh! So lucky!

Senga Jermyn

2y↑3

HOW THE HDLL WAS THIS 11 YEARS AGO

Chantelley Pride

12y↑1

I would work there..... even if Mat was there... I would be happy =)

Sophie Goodwin

4y↑1

I had to listen to this at school well my old one lol it got annoying for a bid but I haven't heard it for a while so it accually sounded good

Briony Grace

12y↑8

ben is gorgeous in this. with that waistcoat on...dear god. ;)

Itz cookie

10y↑24

aww poor children!

the gangsta sponge

@khor kienjoo What a way to say it.

khor kienjoo

4y↑3

Yeah, after all the Victorian age is the golden age of child abuse.

Daizy Donut

3y↑1

These kids are all very good

Kai Does Things

12y

I'd probably be the same as 'channysocute' then change my mind half way through the day. (I am the laziest person ever.)

Kim

12y

wow...i cant even make my son stop leaving his boxers on his bathroom floor..

Casey and Tory's fidgets and haunts

This is how L'Oréal makeup is made

emily worrall

13y↑1

oh god matt looks like mr darcy awwww why do girls always go for the bad boy

Gunnar Getz

4y↑3

1:50 is it just me or does mat look like Boban marjanovic

bankrobber 69

4y↑6

damn... Mat Baynton <3

CatherineDotUK

3y↑1

Press 6 for the best part of the song

Squiggles McWordly

12y

Those kids are awesome! :D

Zac Sal

When I was ten I thought this song was called “What terrible work!”

chinditone9321

13y

I got to meet the girls in it because I did a ad a few weeks ago and they were in it so they said the actors were nice.

Cameron Dodgson

13y

am i the only one who's favourite actor is not matt 0.0 and i just love the kids voice at 2:00 it make me lol :D

QueenShireen

12y

The children are so cute

Cinedragon

12y

2:06 Epic face right there!

Jean Valjean

12y↑3

pooooor cute little kids- i love the really little one tht stole stuff hes adorable!

M.E.G.

13y

those kids are great!

thesilversupporter

12y↑2

1:21 What were they all doing?!

Rexory Ar-Rumi

I made a parody of this when I was 12 but it was on child soldiers.

Seriesfanalways Fangirl

4! THE SWEEPERS WERE 4! WHAT!? I'm glad I don't live in that time

Sally Ngo

10y

Need to watch HH for my industrial revolution test. :)

naomi taylor

11y

I love horrible histories and I love history and Victorians and ww2 lol

Shenice Mathurin

12y↑1

most favourite hh song ever

John Martin

Where Charles Dickens got the inspiration for Oliver and Scrooge

zoezebra1

13y

@soapsterful Bob Hale is played by Laurence Rickard and Henry VIII is played by Ben Willbond. They are both on twitter, as is Martha Howe-Douglas, Simon Farnaby and the producer of HH Caroline Norris.

Chantelley Pride

12y↑2

love Mat in this clip =)

Kai Does Things

12y

yeah, lots would have, and as Rororosieify said they got caught and punished, also, if they did get away, they wouldn't be getting any money to live.

Boy12Random

13y

@LionLiberty I wouldn't, I mean, would you find it creepy if there's a guy who's singing that wants you to die in a factory, and then he's pressing up against you looking happy? Something suspicious is going on...

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