Piece of Ground
A Quest for Equality: Black Man's Demand for His Own Piece of Ground
Lyrics
When the white man first came here from over the seas
Upon the arrival of the white man from overseas, he perceived the land as divine and belonging to God.
He looked and he said, this is God's own country
The white man expressed satisfaction with the newfound land, considering it to be a special place.
He was mighty well pleased with this land that he'd found
Impressed by the land, the white man decided to claim it as his own.
And he said I will make here my own piece of ground
Declaring his intent, the white man expressed a desire to make the land his personal territory.
Then one fine day in 1883
In 1883, gold discovery led to unexpected wealth and abundance in the country.
Gold was discovered in good quantity
The newfound riches resulted in an increased desire among individuals to acquire their own land.
Now the country was rich and was richer than planned
The country became wealthier than anticipated due to the discovery of gold.
Each digger wanted his own piece of land
Each prospector sought to claim a piece of land for themselves.
White diggers were few and the gold was so deep
With a scarcity of white prospectors, cheap black labor was employed for mining, reflecting exploitation.
Black man was called 'cause his labor was cheap
The black man was called upon for cheap labor, highlighting economic disparities.
With cruel and shovel he toiled underground
The black man endured harsh conditions, using a shovel to toil underground for meager wages.
Six pennies a day to tender the ground
Earning only six pennies a day, the black man struggled to cultivate the land.
For the black man's demanding
Expressing the black man's desire for ownership and independence by demanding his own piece of land.
His own piece of ground
Continuation of the black man's aspiration for autonomy and land ownership.
White man don't sleep long and don't sleep too deep
A cautionary note to the white man about the impermanence of life and possessions.
For your life and possessions, how long will you keep?
Prompting reflection on the transience of life and the possessions one holds.
Cause I've heard a rumor that's running around
An awareness of rumors circulating, possibly indicating a rising demand among black people for land.
For the black man's demanding
Reiteration of the black man's insistence on claiming his own piece of land.
His own piece of ground
The black man is resolute in demanding his rightful share of the land, emphasizing a quest for justice.
For the black man's demanding
Repetition emphasizing the black man's persistent demand for ownership and autonomy.
His own piece of ground
Continued emphasis on the black man's unwavering insistence on claiming his own piece of land.
For the black man's demanding
Reiteration of the black man's resolute demand for land ownership.
His own piece of ground
Emphasis on the black man's persistent and unyielding quest for his own piece of land.
For the black man's demanding
Continued emphasis on the black man's unrelenting demand for land ownership.
His own piece of ground
Final repetition underscoring the black man's enduring demand for his rightful piece of land.
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