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lyrics

Skin
Like every mother here I’m so proud of my boy
With his dark haired good looks, he’s my pride and joy
He’s off to see the world with a bedroll in his hand
He’s off to make his fortune in a foreign land
He doesn’t tell me straight about the fears he’ll have to face
He just says he’s got to get a way from this place
There’s nothing left to keep him in this godforsaken town
Can’t stay here any longer, it just gets him down

Hey, Son! I hope they welcome you in
You find people to trust even when times are thin
Living on your wits and their goodwill’s not a sin
No question about the colour of your skin

I haven’t heard for weeks though he promised me so
He’d always stay in touch about the ebb and the flow
He’s a good honest lad with a good honest face
He’s an upstanding member of the human race
The work may be hard, the hours may be long
He’s not afraid of working, his hands and heart are strong
Though conditions may be lousy and the pay maybe poor
In rich western countries they’re protected by the law

Hey Son, I hope they welcomed you in
You found people to trust even when times got thin
Living on your wits and their goodwill’s not a sin
No question about the colour of your skin

….
Hey Mum….

Well I finally got here to the so-called promised land
After beatings and cheatings that I didn’t understand
I always tried so hard but my face didn’t fit
I ended up in trouble where they treat me like shit
We were raided in our hostel in the dead of night
By a bunch of local coppers who were looking for a fight
Off to an asylum centre, they welcomed us in
With a boot in the kidney for the colour of our skin

Hey Mum, I’m ashamed to come home
I’ve lost all my pride and everything I own
My face is one long bruise from my forehead to my chin
And all for the colour of my skin

credits

from Heresy and Hearsay, released June 5, 2013
James Bar Bowen (guitar and vocals)
Roddy Johnston (violin)
Sam Bell (accordion)

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James Bar Bowen Huddersfield, UK

Acoustic folk punk singer-songwriter with attitude. Award-winning songs to make you laugh, cry and rage.
Original, unusual, controversial, political, heart-felt, tear-jerking, angry, inspired, humorous, iconoclastic, sentimental, anti-fascist, engaging, intelligent ... more

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