This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
New civilization, new civilization
All over this land, all over this land
Small ones having smaller and smaller
Small ones having smaller and smaller
New civilization
New civilization, new civilization
All over this land, all over this land
Small ones having smaller and smaller
Small ones having smaller and smaller
New civilization
Come, my brother, come help me
Come, my sister, come help me
Help me sing this song, sing along, sing along
Sing along, sing along
(New civilization, new civilization, new civilization)
The Africans and the Indians
The Africans and the Indians
Never throw stones against one another
Never throw stones against one another
The Africans and the Indians
The Africans and the Indians
Never throw stones against one another
Never throw stones against one another
New civilization, all over this land
Oh, what a disgrace, amongst the human race
Amongst the human race
Oh, what a disgrace, amongst the human race
Amongst the human race
(New civilization)
Talking about racist, talking about racist
Come, my brother, come help me
Come, my brother, come help me
Help me sing this song
Help me sing this song
Sing along, sing along, sing along, sing along
(New civilization)
New civilization, new civilization
All over this land
Let the music play, let the music play
(New civilization)
Reggae music a fe play, reggae music a fe play
(New civilization)
Let it play, let it play, let it play over this land
Let the music play, let the music play
(New civilization)
Reggae music a fe play, reggae music a fe play
(New civilization)
All over this land
(New civilization, new civilization)
All over this land, all over this land
Small ones having smaller and smaller
Small ones having smaller and smaller
New civilization
New civilization, new civilization
All over this land, all over this land
Small ones having smaller and smaller
Small ones having smaller and smaller
New civilization
Come, my brother, come help me
Come, my sister, come help me
Help me sing this song, sing along, sing along
Sing along, sing along
(New civilization, new civilization, new civilization)
The Africans and the Indians
The Africans and the Indians
Never throw stones against one another
Never throw stones against one another
The Africans and the Indians
The Africans and the Indians
Never throw stones against one another
Never throw stones against one another
New civilization, all over this land
Oh, what a disgrace, amongst the human race
Amongst the human race
Oh, what a disgrace, amongst the human race
Amongst the human race
(New civilization)
Talking about racist, talking about racist
Come, my brother, come help me
Come, my brother, come help me
Help me sing this song
Help me sing this song
Sing along, sing along, sing along, sing along
(New civilization)
New civilization, new civilization
All over this land
Let the music play, let the music play
(New civilization)
Reggae music a fe play, reggae music a fe play
(New civilization)
Let it play, let it play, let it play over this land
Let the music play, let the music play
(New civilization)
Reggae music a fe play, reggae music a fe play
(New civilization)
All over this land
(New civilization, new civilization)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Civilization Lyrics as written by Winston Godfrey Rodney
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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