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Burden Of Shame Lyrics
There are murders that we must account for
Bloody deeds have been done in my name
Criminal acts we must pay for
And our children will shoulder the blame
(Chorus)
I`m a British subject, not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
As a nation we`re following blindly
No-one stops to question why
Our money`s supporting an army
And a boy in Soweto dies
(Chorus)
I`m a British subject, not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
Must we go on ignoring forever
The cries of an African son
There`s a soldier`s hand on the trigger
But it`s we who are pointing the gun
(Chorus)
I`m a British subject, not proud of it
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
Bloody deeds have been done in my name
Criminal acts we must pay for
And our children will shoulder the blame
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
No-one stops to question why
Our money`s supporting an army
And a boy in Soweto dies
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
The cries of an African son
There`s a soldier`s hand on the trigger
But it`s we who are pointing the gun
While I carry the burden of shame (Repeat)
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Although at face value it appears the song is about a guilt of British colonisation, the lyrics don't refer to that. They only reference (what was then) modern South Africa.
Bear in mind when the song was written Apartheid was still a major issue in South Africa. And although the British government of the time criticised the situation, they were happy to continue reaping financial and business benefits of their links to the country. Hence the "money" in the song "supporting an army" killing the Africans. That's 1980's British government investment money.
So the song is more of modern day guilt than coloniser guilt.
[Edit: Corrected lyric quote]
In this song they address the guilty complexities of being on the side of colonisers. It makes me feel ashamed to be British when I listen to this song...