In good John Barrs's golden days
when shodans were respected
to hold a championship of go
each year was not neglected.
A one-kyu champion then arose,
Neil Stein was what they called him.
As John was supposed to be shodan
to lose to Stein appalled him.
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
When three strong sons of Cambridge came,
shodans could win no longer.
Though Goddard tried each year to win,
John Diamond proved the stronger.
In favour of one single game
one year our sponsor had spoken,
and that was the year Paul Prescott won,
Jon Diamond's reign was broken.
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
Jon Diamond soon regained his crown,
retiring undefeated.
And players doubted his long reign
could ever be repeated.
But our next champion did as well
with strength you can't imagine.
An Oxford man I'm glad to tell
his name it was Macfadyen.
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
One man believed against Macfadyen
wins could be recorded,
and Terry Stacey's patience was
with two year's reign rewarded.
One year when Matthew was in China
bird watching, as he explained it,
Piers Shepperson pinched the championship,
and Terry never regained it.
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
When Matthew won his crown again,
it seemed there'd be no sequel,
but Shu Tai Zhang from China came,
and Matthew met his equal.
Each year they play, and Shu Tai wins.
Has Matthew hit his ceiling?
At least now Matthew knows
how all the rest of us are feeling.
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
Now Shu Tai Zhang's our champion,
and it's looking hard to beat him,
and players wonder who might be
the next one to defeat him.
It might be Des; it might be Alex;
could even be Harold Lee, sir!
But whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!
And this is the truth that I'll maintain
until my dying day, sir,
that whosoever the champion is
it never will be me, sir!