Yusuf Islam - Tell 'Em I'm Gone Album Lyrics

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I Was Raised In Babylon

I was raised in Babylon
Our priests taught us how to worship the sun
Wo! Where did we go wrong?
They used to call us civilised - but those days are gone

I came to guard the Pharaoh
Bring him wine and women
Oh Lord! Where is he now?
We used call him the highest - till the wave took him down

I was born in the Holy Land
They told me it was by God's command
Wo! Where are the others from?
I thought that we were the chosen - I must've been wrong

I loved to march with the Sultan
And his diamond turban
Oh Lord! Then the world took hold
Let go of the rope of God - for a handful of gold

I used to serve the Empire
On which the sun set, never
Oh! Now times have turned
We thought our white skins would save us - then we got burned

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Big Boss Man

Big boss man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Big boss man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
You're just tall, that's all

I got me working, boss man
Working 'round the clock
Want me a drink of water
But you won't let Joey stop

Big boss man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
You just tall, that's all

Well, I'm gonna get me a boss man
One's gonna treat me right
Work hard in the day time
Rest easy at night

Big boss man
Can't you hear me when I call?
Well, you ain't so big
You re just tall, that's all
Big boss man
You re just tall, that's all

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Dying To Live

You know I've heard it said there's beauty in distortion
By some people who've withdrawn to find their heads
Now they say that there is humor in misfortune
You know I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead

Why am I fighting to live if I'm just living to fight?
Why am I trying to see when there ain't nothing in sight?
Why am I trying to give when no one gives me a try?
Why am I dying to live if I'm just living to die?

You know some people say that values are subjective
But they're just speaking words that someone else has said
And so they live and fight and kill with no objective
Sometimes it's hard to tell the living from the dead

Why am I fighting to live if I'm just living to fight?
Why am I trying to see when there ain't nothing in sight?
Why am I trying to give when no one gives me a try?
Why am I dying to live if I'm just living to die?

You know I used to weave my words into confusion
And so I hope you'll understand me when I'm through
You know I used to live my life as an illusion
But reality will make my dream come true

So I'll keep fighting to live till there's no reason to fight
And I'll keep trying to see until the end is in sight
You know I'm trying to give so c'mon give me a try
You know I'm dying to live until I'm ready to die

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You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, oh, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

The other night, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt a light entered my heart
When I awoke, I was mistaken
Ah, but the curtains were still blown apart

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

My mama once told me
What a soul should know
It's about the devil, and I hate him so
He'll be crying, if we don't frown
And keep on smiling
He'll stop hanging round

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, how much I love you
Oh, please don't take my sunshine away

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Floor Blues

I was born in the West-End
In the summer of '48
Above a small Cafe
Some people liked to come there and call it night
But for me it was all day
Oh! Now the dogs keep a-growlin'
Round my front door
And the Truth howled out from the editing floor

Years went by
Quarrymen came along
This boy became a star
Then he dropped - but got up again
With a Black Everly guitar
Then he searched along the road
A good song he was looking for
And the Truth sang out from the editing floor

Big brother took a trip
As bold as he could be
To the place, he heard,
Where the good Prophets used to walk
High above this dark world
Then the Word came down
And the little brother saw
How the Truth was buried on the editing floor

One day the papers rang us up,
T'check if I said this?
I said, "Oh boy!
I'd never say that!"
Then we got down to the truth of it
But they never printed that!
Just like Socrates, the man from Greece
Fell down on his knees
Said, Lord! Forgive them please
Forgive them please
And he spoke no more
And the cup spilled out on the editing floor

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Cat And The Dog Trap

Cat's in the yard
Fancy free
Dog barges 'round, says,
"You can't catch me!
No siree."

There was a time
When I was younger
I'd chase the tail
Of any danger
About to learn
About to learn

Cat jumps a fence
Lands in a pram
Baby screams, "Mama!"
Out runs the man
Cat gets the can

There was a time
When I was bolder
I'd chase the heels
Of any stranger
About to learn
About to learn

Cat's In a cage
Chained to a stone
Empty Bowl by his side
Just an old fish bone
Dreams of home

There was a time
A long way back
When I would fall
For any dog trap
About to learn
About to learn
About to learn
About to learn

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Gold Digger

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Hmm. Mr. Gold Man! Not one more day.
Mister! Can't you hear my children cryin'?

Came to Pretoria in 46, find myself a job
Met a man with a broken arm, he said:
Come along with us, get onto the bus

Hey Mr. Gold Man! I'm for sale!
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Please don't turn away.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear my tummy rumbling?

"Hey! You a gold digger? There's a job for gold diggers here
You won't get much - but it's a way to survive."

So we continued down the road, till we got to the mine
Dirt and dust all around us now - Hey! I didn't mind
Cause I'm on the workline

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't wait another day.
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't you see I'm almost dying?

"I'm a gold digger man,
22 pence a shift - no overtime."

Then I heard a good friend say: There's a happening in Town
Come and join the Union, boy. 'Cause today, we ain't going down,
We're gonna stand our ground.

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
O Mr. Gold Man! Won't wait another day.
O Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear the thunder coming?

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Loose these chains.
Time Mr. Gold Man! Change is on its way.
Go Mr. Gold Man! Don't come back, this is my country now

"You'd better be leaving now -
Mr. Gold Man."

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The Devil Came From Kansas

Oh, the devil came from Kansas. Where he went to I can't say
Though I teach I'm not a preacher, and I aim to stay that way
There's a monkey riding on my back - been there for some time
He says he knows me very well, but he's no friend of mine
I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

Oh, the devil came from Kansas. where he went to I can't say
If you really are my brother then you'd better start to pray
For the sins of those departed and the ones about to go
There's a dark cloud just above us, don't tell me 'cos I know
I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

No, I never came from Kansas, don't forget to thank the cook
Which reminds me of my duty: I was lost and now I look
For the turnings and the signpost and the road which takes you down
To that pool inside the forest in whose waters I shall drown
I am not a humble pilgrim
There's no need to scrape and squeeze
And don't beg for silver paper
When I'm trying to sell you cheese

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Tell 'em I'm Gone

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Tell 'em I'm gone
Tell 'em I'm gone

If he asks you was I runnin'
If he asks you was I runnin
If he asks you was I runnin'
Tell 'em I was flyin'
Tell 'em I was flyin'

If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
If he asks you was I laughin'
Tell 'em I was cryin'
Tell 'em I was cryin'

I don't want no cornbread and molasses
I don't want no cornbread and molasses
I don't want no cornbread and molasses
Hurts my pride
Hurts my pride

Take this hammer, and carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, and carry it to the captain
Take this hammer, and carry it to the captain
Tell 'em I'm gone
You tell 'em I'm gone

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Doors

When a door is closed
Somewhere, there's a door that's opening
When a light goes out
Somewhere, there's a light that's shining

God made everything
Just right

If you never risk to lose
You may never get to win
If you never venture out
You will see nothing

God made everything
Just right

When a flower dies
Somewhere, there's flower blooming
When a Sun goes down
There's a Moon rising

When a door is closed
Somewhere, there's a door that's opening