A Piece of Ground [Stereo Version]

When the white man first came here from over the seas
He looked and he said, this is God's own country
He was mighty well pleased with this land that he'd found
And he said I will make here my own piece of ground

Now many's the battle he still had to fight
And many's the family who died in the night
'Cause many's the black men who lived all around
All of them wanting their own piece of ground

Then one fine day in 1883
Gold was discovered in good quantity
Now the country was rich and was richer than planned
And each digger wanted his own piece of land

White diggers were few and the gold was so deep
Black man was called 'cause his labor was cheap
With drill and with shovel he toiled underground
Six pennies a day to tender the ground

Now this land is so rich and it seems strange to me
That the black man whose labor has helped it to be
Cannot enjoy the fruits that abound
Is uprooted and kicked from his own piece of land

Why some people say now don't you worry
We'll get you a nice piece of reserve territory
But I'll give my a life that ten million can be found
On a miserable thirty per cent of the ground?

Yes some people say now don't you worry
You can always find jobs in the white mans city
But don't stay too long and don't stay too deep
For you're bound to disturb the white man in his sleep

White man don't sleep long and don't sleep too deep
For your life and possessions how long will you keep?
'Cause I've heard a rumour that's running around
For the black man's demanding his own piece of ground
His own piece of ground
His own piece of ground
His own piece of ground

Most popular songs of Miriam Makeba

Other artists of World music