The World Turned Upside Down Lyrics
In 1649
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
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 took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command
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
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 took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring 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
The God of greed who feeds the rich
While poor men starve
We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
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
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich
While poor men starve
We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
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
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
About
Genius Annotation
Bragg’s cover of a 1975 song by Leon Rosselson called “Diggers' Song”, “The World Turned Upside Down” is a protest song and commemoration of the Diggers movement that began in England in 1649. The Diggers were proto-Marxists who believed that all land should be free for everyone to use.
Like many folk songs, this song can be confused with a few others:
- The World Turned Upside Down, an English ballad from the 1640s protesting the Puritans “banning” Christmas
- Diggers' Song or Levellers and Diggers, a 17th century ballad inspired by the Diggers
Rosselson’s song is not related to either of these songs beyond subject matter and title.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.It Says Here
- 11.A Lover Sings
- 16.The Last Time
- 21.Between the Wars
- 22.The World Turned Upside Down
Credits
Producer
Writer
Release Date
2006
The World Turned Upside Down Is A Cover Of
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