WHEN GOD GIVES
US SPRING - a poem for Mags
I be but four when Mama died
I be all alone in the world.
But Massa Alfred Gordon swore
That he was on my side.
Michael Custis Washington be my name
Massa gave this big name to me
Massa Alfred is a kind white man
No mama, no papa, I be his slave.
Leona be like my new mama, I swear
But she treat me as bad as old Wilbur
Aint nobody cares what you want, my son
Mama said that’s my burden to bear.
Chorus – Aint nobody cares
what you want, my son, and that’s my burden to share.
No longer a child, Massa Gordon is cruel
I’m abused and for freedom I plan
With Lucinda, my love, we’ll escape the big house
We’ll be free of his sick, cruel rule.
The Quakers help us run from this hell
To a haven called Canada far from his grasp
John Morrison, our leader, our saviour and friend
Leaves us safe, warm, and fed with a story to tell.
Chorus – Now somebody cares
what you want, my son, no longer that burden to share.
A challenging journey, obstacles galore
Elgin settlement will be our new home
In a small town called Chatham we settle down
Our cabin is warm. We are slaves no more.
Prayerful thanks to our Underground Railroad
The Fugitive Slave Law saved our lives
With Civil War in America the reason I leave
I am thankful for much, but something is owed.
Aint
nobody cares what you want, my son, and that’s my burden to bear.
Union Army I join and I travel far.
An old man I am but I fight and I pray
To Virginia I return with a plan in my heart
I climb the old stairs. His door is ajar.
The old man is sitting in dark wooden wheelchair
I point the gun straight at his nasty heart
“I’m your daddy. I loved you” he cries in defense
I pull the trigger. Who said life is fair?
Aint
nobody cares what you want, my son, and that’s my burden to bear.
My tears mix with hers and together we pray
I’ve returned to Lucinda and she takes my hand
We look up at the night sky and find that north star
This free black man is home where forever he’ll stay.
Now
somebody cares what you want, my son, no longer that burden to bear.
Now
somebody cares what you want, my son, no longer that burden to bear.
