Now b ack when this eart h was a si lver blue je wel
And back when your gr andfather's f athers were yo ung
M en of these sh ores made and gav e up their live s
P ulling up fis h from the sea
While d own in the African sla very trade
S tealing young men to c ut sugar cane
Ru m to New Bedf ord and cod fish fr om Main e
They were building a wall that will al ways r emai n
Oh the crown and the cross the mu sket and the chain
The wh ite man's religion the f amily name
Two hund red years lat er and who is to blame?
The captain or the c argo or the jui ce of the sugar cane?
The do ryman he kno ws when the rip tides will run
He sets out his nets and he wai ts in the sun
He th inks of his fa mily and drinks of his rum
And he wa its for the codfi sh to come
It's the sa me goddamn ocean that keeps them alive
It will sw allow you up it will let you survive
It will he al you and steal you and take you a way
Like a note in a bott le with nothi ng to say
Now b ack when this ea rth was a silv er blue jew el
Back when your gra ndfather's fa thers were you ng
Me n of these sho res made and gave up their lives
Pu lling up fish from the