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Slave Lyrics
There's a river running sweat right through our land,
driven by a man with a bullwhip in his hand
and I've taken just as much as I can stand.
Oh, we've got to free our brothers from their
shackles if we can.
Most nights I have to watch my woman cry,
every day I watch the colonel smile,
his painted ladies riding in from town
I swear one day I'm gonna burn that whore
house to the ground.
Slave! Slave!
To fight the violence we must be brave,
hold on strong
to the love God gave, slave.
There's a rumour of a war that's yet to come
that may free our families and our sons,
It may lay green lands to barren wastes,
the price of release is a bitter blow to face.
(lyrics written by Bernie Taupin; music written by Elton John) from the album 'Honky Chateau'
I think this song is one of Elton John's most direct songs. No hidden meaning, just the story of a slave who is getting fed-up with his situation. I've always thought that the story in these lyrics and the one in 'Burn Down the Mission' are quite similar.