The World Turned Upside Down

In sixteen forty-nine to Saint George's Hill

A ragged band they called the Diggers came to show the people's will

They defied the landlords, they defied the law

They were the dispossessed, reclaiming what was theirs

"We come in peace," they said, "to dig and sow

We come to work the land in common and to make the waste ground grow

This earth divided we will make whole

So it can be a common treasury for all

The sin of property we do disdain

No man has any right to buy and sell the earth for private gain

By theft and murder they steal the land

Now everywhere the walls rise up at their command

They make the laws to chain us well

The clergy dazzle us with heaven or they damn us into hell

We will not worship the god they serve

They god of greed who feeds the rich while poor folk starve

We work, we eat together, we need no swords

We will not bow to the masters or pay rent to the lords

Still we are free men though we are poor

You Diggers all, stand up for glory, stand up now"

From the men of property the order came

They sent the hired men and troopers to wipe out the Diggers' claim

Tear down their cottages, destroy their corn

They were dispersed, but still the vision carries on

You poor, take courage, you rich, take care

This earth was made a common treasury for everyone to share

All things in common, all people one

We come in peace, the order came to cut them down

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