World turned upside down

In sixteen-forty-nine to St. George’s Hill

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

They defied the landlords; they defied the laws

They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs.

“We come in peace,” they said, “to dig and sow”.

“We come to work the lands in common and to make the waste grounds grow,

This earth divided we will make whole,

So it will be a common treasury for all.”

And the sin of property we do disdain;

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

By theft and murder, they took the land

Now everywhere the walls spring up at their command.

And they made the laws to chain us well

And the clergy dazzled us with heaven or they damned us into hell.

We will not worship the god they serve,

The god of greed who feeds the rich while the poor ones starve.

We work, we eat together; we need no swords

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

We are free though we are poor.

You Diggers all stand up for glory; stand up now!

From the men of property the orders 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 lingers 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 orders came to cut them down.

We come in peace,…the orders came to cut them down.