A Piece Of Ground
Struggle for Home: Miriam Makeba's A Piece Of Ground
Lyrics
When the white man first came here from over the seas
Upon the arrival of the white man from distant lands,
He looked and he said, this is God's own country
He perceived this place as a divine, blessed land.
He was mighty well pleased with this land that he'd found
He was greatly pleased with this newfound territory.
And he said I will make here my own piece of ground
He declared his intention to claim this land as his own.
Now many is the battle he still had to fight
Despite numerous conflicts, battles persisted.
And many is the family who died in the night
Many families suffered casualties during the night.
As many is the black men who lived all around
The black men residing nearby desired their own land.
All of them wanting their own piece of ground
They too sought ownership of their piece of land.
Then one fine day in 1883
In 1883, gold discovery changed the landscape.
Gold was discovered in good quantity
The country became unexpectedly affluent.
Now the country was rich and was richer than planned
Each miner now sought individual land holdings.
And each digger wanted his own piece of land
The desire for personal land ownership surged.
White diggers were few and the gold was so deep
White miners were scarce, but gold was abundant.
Black man was called 'cause his labor was cheap
Black labor was sought for its affordability.
With cruel and shovel he toiled underground
Blacks toiled harshly underground with tools.
Six pennies a day to tender the ground
Earning meager wages for their laborious work.
Now this land is so rich and it seems strange to me
The irony: the black labor helped enrich the land.
That the black man whose labor has helped it to be
Despite this, they couldn't partake in the prosperity.
Cannot enjoy the fruits that abound
They were denied the benefits of their labor.
He's uprooted and kicked from his own piece of land
Forcibly displaced from their rightful lands.
While some people say now don't you worry
Assurances given of reserve lands for blacks.
We'll get you a nice piece of reserve territory
But the promise seemed insufficient for justice.
But I'll give my life that ten million can be found
Willing to sacrifice for proper land for all.
On a miserable thirty per cent of the ground
Current allocation inadequate for millions.
Yes, some people say now don't you worry
Suggesting job opportunities in cities.
You can always find jobs in the white man's city
However, a caution against overstaying.
But don't stay too long and don't stay too deep
Warning against disturbing the white man's peace.
For you're bound to disturb the white man in his sleep
Fear of retaliation for encroaching on their space.
White man don't sleep long and don't sleep too deep
A warning for the white man to remain vigilant.
For your life and possessions, how long will you keep?
Pondering the security of their possessions.
Cause I've heard a rumor that's running around
Rumors circulate about black demands for land.
For the black man's demanding
Their rightful claim to their own piece of land.
His own piece of ground
Reaffirmation of the black man's desire for land.
His own piece of ground
Reiteration of the black man's longing for their own land.
His own piece of ground
-His own piece of ground
-His own piece of ground
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