I'm a simple man
With a simple name
From this soil my people came
In this soil remain
Oh yeah, oh yeah
We made us our shoes
We trod soft on the land
But the immigrant built roads
On our blood and sand
Oh yeah, oh yeah
White man, White man
Don't you see the light behind your blackened skies
White man, White man
You took away the sight to blind my simple eyes
White man, White man
Where you gonna hide
From the hell you've made ?
Oh the Red man knows war
With his hands and his knives
On the bible you swore
Fought your battle with lies
Oh yeah
Leave my body in shame
Leave my soul in disgrace
But by every God's name
Say your prayers for your race
Oh yeah
White man, White man
Our country was green and all our rivers wide
White man, White man
You came with a gun and soon our children died
White man, White man
Don't you give a light for the blood you've shed
Oooh yeah
Oh White man, White man (White man)
White man, White man
Fought your battle with lies, yeah
White man, White man - but weren't too civilised yeah
White man, White man
Take a look around
Every skin and bone
Hey
What is left of your dream ?
Just the words on your stone
A man who learned how to teach
Then forgot how to learn
Oh yeah
With a simple name
From this soil my people came
In this soil remain
Oh yeah, oh yeah
We trod soft on the land
But the immigrant built roads
On our blood and sand
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Don't you see the light behind your blackened skies
White man, White man
You took away the sight to blind my simple eyes
White man, White man
Where you gonna hide
From the hell you've made ?
With his hands and his knives
On the bible you swore
Fought your battle with lies
Oh yeah
Leave my soul in disgrace
But by every God's name
Say your prayers for your race
Oh yeah
Our country was green and all our rivers wide
White man, White man
You came with a gun and soon our children died
White man, White man
Don't you give a light for the blood you've shed
Oooh yeah
White man, White man
Fought your battle with lies, yeah
White man, White man - but weren't too civilised yeah
White man, White man
Take a look around
Every skin and bone
Hey
Just the words on your stone
A man who learned how to teach
Then forgot how to learn
Oh yeah
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Nice lyrics I must say... Freddie Mercury was actually born into Zorastrian faith, he was born in the country of Zanzibar from Bomi, and jer. They fled to England as refugees.
Well, i personally just think this song is commenting on the Aboriginees life for North America after 'white man' came to destroy their way of life.
This track rocks! Nice ending too. The lyrics are controversial and well-chosen.
They were against Apartheid; they just wanted to play for fans, and they had fans in South Africa. They weren't a very political band.
yea they were playin against aperthied. but i want u guys to note that freddie is not a white guy but he is of indian origin so maybe he was givin his view abt the evil do's of the white guys(to be pricise the engilshmen) on the third world countries just like his own country of birth india
Except Brian wrote this song...
Except Brian wrote this song...
Queen's heaviest song by far, great lyrics, if you don't know what they are about then you are fucking dumb. Most hardcore Queen fans don't like this one for some retarded reason...
Awesome guitar work in this one too.
I know that Freddie is Parsee, and I think he might have some Indian in him...
I agree with Greentiger...I was thinking of all of the pain the "white men" caused the Native North Americans (and possibly the South Americans, too).
of course they did we were robbed of our riches, culture, and land as well!!!
of course they did we were robbed of our riches, culture, and land as well!!!
I thought Freddie was Saudi.
It has to be about indians, aboriginies inuit and any other race that white man has invaded. (being an evolutionist I feel that invasion is part n parcel of the history of MAN. We have all been invaded in our lands if you look, so for invasions over 100 years, people get over it, you had your run as a people. And it may very well continue forever)
A simple song really for meaning
I can't imagine why any hardcore Queen fan like myself wouldn't like this song. Powerful lyrics from the perspective of the indian. A true Queen fan knows that all of their music is great and unique in its own way.