Third World Child

Bits of songs and broken drums

Are all he could recall

So he spoke to me in a bastard tongue

Carried on the silence of the guns

It's been a long long time since they first came

And marched through our village

They taught us to forget our past

And live the future in their image

They said, "You should learn to speak a little bit of English"

Don't be scared of a suit and tie

Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner

I am a third world child

The out world's dreams are the currency

That grip the city streets

I live them out but I have my own

Hidden somewhere deep inside of me

In between my father's fields

And the citadels of the rule

Lies a no-man's land which I must cross

To find my stolen jewel

They said, I should learn to speak a little bit of English

Maybe practice birth control

Keep away from controversial politics

So to save my third world soul

You should learn to speak a little bit of English

Don't be scared of a suit and tie

Learn to walk in the dreams of the foreigner

I am a third world child

Wo! ilanga lobunzima

Nalo liyashona

Ukuthini asazi

Mus' ukukhala

Mntanami

Bits of songs and broken drums

Are all he could recall

But the future calls his name out loud

Carried on the violence of the guns

I just can speak a little bit of English

I am a I can survive

I am fire and I am a third world child

I just can speak a little bit of English

I am a I can survive

I am fire and I am a third world child

I just can speak a little bit of English

I am a I can survive

I am fire and I am a third world child