The stream of rumour in our ears is remorseless
It burrows in and in as you think.
For example,
That prices are soon going up and up, of course, yes -
Especially trousers and strong drink!

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

You know they say when they were digging the drains out,
They found two streams of cognac bursting through.
And who knew the Jews again have been poisoning the rain, now?
And that our bread is made with fish scales, too!

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

Hey, they’ve built a whole town right under the ground, yes...
They say it’s in case of nuclear war.
And soon the banyas in the town are all going be shut down, yes!
This is true - I know it for sure.

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

Hey have you heard there are widespread cancellations?
They say even the army march is off.
And I heard at the station, everything’s banned for the duration
And we’ll all be banned, so bugger off.

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

And have you heard that Mamykin will be rested
For his drunk and debauched hysteria?
And the neighbour we detested, well last night he was arrested.
Because he looks like Lavrenty Beria.

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

Rumours are long hardened by battle after battle -
They spread out and out through the land.
Now the gossip says that soon there’ll be a stop to tittle-tattle
And there are rumours that gossip will be banned!

And like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!

And no matter if it’s a murmur or a shout,
A bad rumour will find a tongue to wag.
But people start to doubt when good rumours get out;
They say they’re just an old wives’ nag.

But like flies
Through the air,
Rumours swarm
Here and there;
They’re spread by toothless biddies,
all these rumours everywhere!