Making History

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Originale

Standard English translation

MAKING HISTORY Mekkin histri. Now tell mi someting Mistah govahment man Tell mi someting How lang yu really feel Yu coulda keep wi andah heel Wen di trute done reveal Bout how yu grab an steal Bout how yu mek yu crooked deal Well doun in Soutall Where Peach did get fall Di Asians dem faam-up a human wall Gense di fashist an dem police sehil An dem show dat di Asians gat plenty zeal It is noh mistri Wi mekkin histri It is noh mistri Wi winnin victri Now tell mi someting Mistah police spokesman Tell mi someting How lang yu really tink Wi woulda tek yu batn lick Yu jackboot kick Yu dutty bag a tricks An yu racist pallyticks Well doun in Bristal Dey ad no pistal But dem chase di Babylan away Man yu shoulda si yu Babylan How dem really run away! Yu shoulda si yu Babylan Dem dig-up dat day It is noh mistri Wi mekkin histri It is noh mistri Wi winnin victri Now tell mi someting Mistah ritewing man Tell mi someting How lang yu really feel Wi woulda grovel an squeal Wen so much murdah canceal Wen wi woun cyaan heal Wen wi feel di way wi feel Well dere woz Toxteth An dere woz Moss Side An a lat a addah places Whey di police ad to hide Well dare woz Brixtan An dere woz Chapeltoun An a lat a addah place Dat woz burnt to di groun It is noh mistri Wi mekkin histri It is noh mistri Wi winnin victri

MAKING HISTORY Making History. Now tell me something, Mister government man, Tell me something. How long did you really think You could keep us under your heel, When the truth is revealed, About how you grab and steal, About how you made your crooked deal, Well down in Southall [1], Where Peach [2] has fallen, The Asians, they've created a human wall, Against the fascists and the police here, And they've showed that the Asians have plenty of zeal, It's no mystery, We're making history, It's no mystery, We're winning, victory. Now tell me something, Mister police spokesman, Tell me something, How long did you really think, We would take your baton licks, Your jackboots [3] kicks, Your dirty bag of tricks, And your racist politics. Well down in Bristol [4], They had no pistols [5], But they chased the Babylon [6] away, Man, you should've said you're a Babylon How they really ran away, You should've said you're a Babylon, They dug them up that day. It's no mystery, We're making history, It's no mystery, We're winning, victory. Now tell me something, Mister right wing man, Tell me something. How long did you really feel, We would've groveled and squealed, When so much murder has been concealed, When we're wounded and can't heal, When we feel the way we feel. Well there was Toxteth [7], And there was Moss Side [8], And a lot of other places, Where the police has to hide, Well there was Brixton [9], And there was Chapeltown [10], And a lot of other places That were burned to the ground. It's no mystery, We're making history, It's no mystery, We're winning, victory.