We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The World Turned Upside Down

from BARD COMPANY: 'Raising The Standards' by BARD COMPANY

/

about

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: “Gerrard Winstanley was born in Wigan in 1609. He was one of the founders of the Diggers (or Levellers) movement which worked and cultivated common land at St Georges Hill in Surrey in 1649. Oppressed and attacked by local landowners the movement came to an end in 1950.
The significance of Winstanley's beliefs were that the Earth should be a common treasury for all, a belief and vision that lives on for many like anti-frackers and environmentalists to this day.
Every year in September around the time of Winstanley's death the Wigan Diggers' Festival celebrates the legacy that he and the Diggers movement left us. This song follows the story and courage of the Diggers movement. .” PUNKY

lyrics

The World Turned Upside Down

In 1649
St. George's Hill
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
defied the laws
They were the dispossessed
Reclaiming what was theirs

"We come in peace," they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste grounds grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich
While poor men starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down

credits

from BARD COMPANY: 'Raising The Standards', released November 11, 2019
WORDS & MUSIC: Leon Rosselson

license

all rights reserved

tags

If you like The Crows Of Albion, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now