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GOVERNMENT SONG*

from PROTEST SONGS by John Ellis

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From the 2010 Broken Records album "Come Out Fighting"

lyrics

GOVERNMENT SONG

There’s a man who invented a machine
To make dirty water clean
And it works, it could really change the world
But there’s a man Who’s in charge
Who would like a luxury car
And that’s what it’s going to take to bring clean water to the people

Is this the country we prayed for?
The land our heroes have betrayed
Whatever happened to the struggle?
Maybe it’s time to start again

There’s a girl who lives with a disease
That keeps her on her knees
All she needs is a fucking loaf of bread
But there’s a man in a uniform
Sunglasses, crocodile shoes
Puts a gun in her hand and sends her out to kill her next-door neighbour

And if you listen you will hear
Luthuli turning in his grave
O Spear of the Nation!
When did you become a slave?

credits

from PROTEST SONGS, released December 12, 2013
Produced by John Ellis, Jake Odendaal & Tain Odendaal
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jake Odendaal
Additional recording, editing and engineering by Tain Odendaal
Recorded in Johannesburg and Durban January-May 2010 for Vynil Productions

John Ellis: guitars, singing, keyboards, percussion, bass guitar, programming
Tain Odendaal: drums, percussion
Jake Odendaal: additional bass guitar

Words and music: John Ellis
Published by Jellisongs/ Admin. by HereWeAreMusic
© John Ellis 2010 © Broken Records

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John Ellis Durban, South Africa

A singer-songwriter from Durban, South Africa, John has played his music all over the world. His fifth full-length solo album "Native"will be released on April 27 2022.

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