HALF-BALLAD OF WATERVAL
Whenby the labour of my ’andsI’ve ’elped to pack a transport tightWith prisoners for foreign lands,I ain’t transported with delight.I know it’s only just an’ right,But yet it somehow sickens me,For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.Be’ind the pegged barb-wire strands,Beneath the tall electric light,We used to walk in bare-’ead bands,Explainin’ ’ow we lost our fight.An’ that is what they’ll do to-nightUpon the steamer out at sea,If I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.They’ll never know the shame that brands—Black shame no livin’ down makes white,The mockin’ from the sentry-stands,The women’s laugh, the gaoler’s spite.Weare too bloomin’ much polite,But that is ’ow I’d ’ave us be...Since I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.They’ll get those draggin’ days all right,Spent as a foreigner commands,An’ ’orrors of the locked-up night,With ’Ell’s own thinkin’ on their ’ands.I’d give the gold o’ twenty Rands(If it was mine) to set ’em free ...For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity!
Whenby the labour of my ’andsI’ve ’elped to pack a transport tightWith prisoners for foreign lands,I ain’t transported with delight.I know it’s only just an’ right,But yet it somehow sickens me,For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.Be’ind the pegged barb-wire strands,Beneath the tall electric light,We used to walk in bare-’ead bands,Explainin’ ’ow we lost our fight.An’ that is what they’ll do to-nightUpon the steamer out at sea,If I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.They’ll never know the shame that brands—Black shame no livin’ down makes white,The mockin’ from the sentry-stands,The women’s laugh, the gaoler’s spite.Weare too bloomin’ much polite,But that is ’ow I’d ’ave us be...Since I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.They’ll get those draggin’ days all right,Spent as a foreigner commands,An’ ’orrors of the locked-up night,With ’Ell’s own thinkin’ on their ’ands.I’d give the gold o’ twenty Rands(If it was mine) to set ’em free ...For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity!
Whenby the labour of my ’andsI’ve ’elped to pack a transport tightWith prisoners for foreign lands,I ain’t transported with delight.I know it’s only just an’ right,But yet it somehow sickens me,For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.
Be’ind the pegged barb-wire strands,Beneath the tall electric light,We used to walk in bare-’ead bands,Explainin’ ’ow we lost our fight.An’ that is what they’ll do to-nightUpon the steamer out at sea,If I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.
They’ll never know the shame that brands—Black shame no livin’ down makes white,The mockin’ from the sentry-stands,The women’s laugh, the gaoler’s spite.Weare too bloomin’ much polite,But that is ’ow I’d ’ave us be...Since I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity.
They’ll get those draggin’ days all right,Spent as a foreigner commands,An’ ’orrors of the locked-up night,With ’Ell’s own thinkin’ on their ’ands.I’d give the gold o’ twenty Rands(If it was mine) to set ’em free ...For I ’ave learned at WatervalThe meanin’ of captivity!