Tony Norwell
Miscellaneous
The Empire Windrush
The Empire Windrush
“Thus from a mixture of all kinds began –
That heterogeneous thing, an Englishman.” From “The True Born Englishman” Daniel Defoe.
On the Empire Windrush we came over here –
We thought we’d be welcome to stay.
There were many more like us – who wanted to work –
With regular dignified pay – yes, with regular dignified pay.
We came from an island that we all loved so true –
But there was no work to let us just live.
We were told your land needed and wanted us, too,
And our work was one thing we could give.
Refrain:
Oh, Empire Windrush, oh , what has gone wrong?
Oh, why do they treat us this way?
Oh, Empire Windrush – come back to us now –
For I think you should take us away –
Yes, I think you should take us away.
It all went all right for some of us then –
It was good to have plenty to eat.
But slowly we learned that some of you thought
You’d not want us to live in your street –
You’d not want us to live in your street.
The first time they abused me because of my skin
I tried to pretend not to hear.
The next time I couldn’t show how much it hurt –
The third time I fought back my tears –
The third time I fought back my tears.
The fourth time I asked why they had to look down
On others to make themselves feel good.
The fifth time in tears of anger and hurt
I asked if their hearts were of wood –
I asked if their hearts were of wood.
Now as I grow older much still seems the same –
So little appears to have changed;
But there’re far fewer jobs and at least as much hate –
A generation of people estranged –
A generation of people estranged.
I’ve got two grown up kids I love all I can;
One’s just left school to go on the dole.
The other’s in Brixton for two years at least –
He wanted enough so he stole –
He wanted enough so he stole.
Is this the “Old Country” – liberal and free –
Whence folk of all skin colours came?
Where no one would mind how “different” we were –
But would rather see ways we’re the same –
But would rather see ways we’re the same!
Oh come on all people of whatever creed –
Or what colour or god you may call.
We’re none of us “perfect” in morals or race –
Read the past and we’re aliens all –
Read the past and we’re aliens all!
“We’re here because you were there…”

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