The Empire Windrush

The Empire Windrush (Mark Bloomer)

In 1940 the war it came, 10,000 volunteers laid claim
Their motherland for to defend, the pleasant lands of England

We left Jamaica far behind for the sky, the trench, the battlefield
Five long years we fought the fascist from the shores of England

With the Royal Air Force I did fly, proud and strong to defend the sky
Had to watch as good friends died high above the lands of England

The war came to an end one day and home we returned again
A harder living waiting there far from the shores of England

In 48 she called again, for employment here there are no men
The Windrush sailed us off to work the factories and the steel mills

This time there came no welcome hand, our hopes and expectations fell
To the hands of the Ratman's living hell in the dirty slums of England

Believe it or not I saw the signs hung upon the door
No Blacks No Dogs No Irish, Is this what we had fought for?

I've worked hard all my life to pay my own and my family's way
Seems I can't do right here anyway, I wish that I was home

And now with no way home at all I'm forced to stay and brave the storm
Of ignorance and bigotry in the pleasant lands of England

Now a generation's passed, will we be accepted here at last
We fought together, white and black, for the pleasant lands of England

When sweet fortune comes my way I will pack my bags and rue the day
I left the sunshine for to stay in the pleasant lands of England