Hey we can drop the "T"
That's my master's name
He branded me
Demanded that I work for free
Reprimanded when I wouldn't be
The good little black kid
Hell look what my mom did
She lifted me
In slavery I toiled
Faces boiled
In the heat of the plantation
Hey we can drop the "T"
Taliaferro don't belong to me
The oppressor's game
He taunted me
Demanded that I'd always be
The card at the bottom
The spade that's forgotten
In the deck of princes and kings
Hey we can drop the "T"
Don't feel sorry for me
Plantation songs make melody
Bittersweet and like no other
You have never known a brother
Til you've baked in blinding sun
Washed the blood from everyone
And said go home
Be with your mother
She loves you, son
Author notes
This guy was amazing. Here is an extract from his work "Up from Slavery" (1901) "As the great day drew nearer, there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had more ring, and lasted later into the night. Most of the verses of the plantation songs had some reference to freedom.... Some man who seemed to be a stranger (a United States officer, I presume) made a little speech and then read a rather long paper -- the Emancipation Proclamation, I think. After the reading we were told that we were all free, and could go when and where we pleased. My mother, who was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this was the day for which she had been so long praying, but fearing that she would never live to see"
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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A very fine piece, indeed, to remind us of important history (although ALL history is important). Most excellent! bravo... bravo... bravo...
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applause ... applause ... author author autho .. i read his book on peanuts when I was about seven years old and researched him when I was older ... very exquiste take on the T ... it was a great band, too, the MG's
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This was a really wonderful write! a very well done dedication to a wonderful man!
I love how vivid the imagery is in this write..And the emotion is great too!! thank you very much for sharing! I really loved it!
Angel
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Thanks so much for your fantastic comments - much appreciated!
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An excellent tribute to a great man, thank you for sharing this well written piece and the author's notes as well.
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"You have never known a brother,
Til you've baked in blinding sun
Washed the blood from everyone"
These are the best lines you wrote in any poem! Those lines scream freedom and equality! I could never write poignant lines like that! You are such a celebrated lyricist! You have a civil rights pioneer's soul.
"The oppressor's game
He taunted me
Demanded I'd always be
The card at the bottom
The spade that's forgotten
In the deck of princes and kings"
You are such a majestic writer!
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