The Day Has Come

Once I was a soldier; I fought on foreign sands for you.
Once I was a molder; I worked with my hands for you.
Once I was a farmer; I tilled the lands for you,
For your wealth and joy to be;
For your class’s destiny.

[CHORUS]     But now the day has come,
Just like the morning sun,
For the beast to run,
And for the slaves to rise and be
Like the waves of the sea and be free !

Once I was the liar, I bought the bull that fooled the rest for you.
Once I built the fire that warmed your nest for you.
Once I was for hire; I sold my breath to you.
In the days when we lived tied to your rubbish dreams;
On the chains of your mystery;
On the reins of your history –

[CHORUS] But now the day has come,
Just like the morning sun,
For the beast to run,
And for the slaves to rise and be
like the waves of the sea and be free !

In case anybody out there has any lingering doubt
About just exactly who the hell Mike Stout is talking about.
I’m talking about the ones left behind, downsized and margainalized
The one who do all the work and never get known or recognized.
The hard-working poor, the scorned,
The have-nots and the ignored;
The uncompensated, and incarcerated,
Here and in every wretched corner of the globe –
I’m talking about the working people of the world.
I’m talking about the workers of the world.
I’m talking about you and me ; I’m talking about you and me.