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World Turned Upside Down Tab

by Billy Bragg





From the Between the Wars EP, or the CD version of Life's a Riot

[intro]:

droning 


[verse]:

                                                   
In sixteen forty nine               to St George's Hill
                                               
a ragged band they called the Diggers came to show the peoples'
                                                          will
                                              
they defied the Landlords,    they 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 wastegrounds
                                                             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 man 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


chords

EADGBe
022100 - E
799877 - B
577655 - A

For that nice Mr Bebbington and his mates

Nic