Original | Bob Whiskens' version |
BANKS OF MARBLE | THE BANKS ARE MADE OF MARBLE |
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I've traveled round this country | I've travelled round this country |
From shore to shining shore. | From shore to shining shore |
It really made me wonder | And it really made me wonder |
The things I heard and saw. | About the things that I heard and saw |
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I saw the weary farmer, | I saw a homeless woman |
Plowing sod and loam; | Outside the local store |
I heard the auction hammer | And it really made me angry |
A knocking down his home. | Tory austerity was the cause |
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But the banks are made of marble, | But the banks they are made of marble |
With a guard at every door, | With a guard at every door |
And the vaults are stuffed with silver, | And the vaults they are stuffed with silver |
That the farmer sweated for. | That the people grafted for |
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I saw the seaman standing | And I see young struggling families |
Idly by the shore. | Standing in the food bank queues |
I heard the bosses saying, | Remember brothers and sisters |
Got no work for you no more. | Tomorrow it might be me or you |
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But the banks are made of marble, | But the banks they are made of marble |
With a guard at every door, | With a guard at every door |
And the vaults are stuffed with silver, | And the vaults they are stuffed with silver |
That the seaman sweated for. | That the people grafted for |
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I saw the weary miner, | Well I saw our frontline workers |
Scrubbing coal dust from his back, | Nurses and doctors and those in care |
I heard his children cryin', | Risking their lives without resources |
Got no coal to heat the shack. | No protective kit for them to wear |
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But the banks are made of marble, | But the banks they are made of marble |
With a guard at every door, | With a guard at every door |
And the vaults are stuffed with silver, | And the vaults they are stuffed with silver |
That the miner sweated for. | That the people grafted for |
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I've seen my brothers working | So I've seen hard-working people |
Throughout this mighty land; | Throughout this mighty land |
I prayed we'd get together, | There's the few, then there's the many |
And together make a stand. | Rise up the many and make a stand |
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Then we'd own those banks of marble, | But the banks they are made of marble |
With a guard at every door; | With a guard at every door |
And we'd share those vaults of silver, | And the vaults they are stuffed with silver |
That we have sweated for. | That the people grafted for |