The World Turned Upside Down
Billy Bragg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 no worship the God they serve
The God of greed who feed 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
The World Turned Upside Down by Billy Bragg is a powerful and thought-provoking song that tells the story of the Diggers, a group of 17th-century English agrarian communists who believed in communal ownership of the land. The first verse of the song describes how the Diggers arrived at St. George's Hill in 1649 with the intention of demonstrating the people's will, and how they defied the landlords and laws to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs.
The second verse of the song speaks directly to the Diggers' core beliefs, which center around the notion of common ownership of the land. The Diggers see themselves as peaceful workers, coming to the land to work it in common and make it productive once more. They reject the notion of private property as a sin, and reject the notion that anyone has the right to buy and sell the land for their own gain. They recognize that the wealthy and the powerful have taken the land for themselves, through theft and murder, and that they have erected walls everywhere to keep the poor out.
The final verse of the song speaks to the violent resistance that the Diggers encountered from the forces of the landed gentry, who were threatened by the egalitarian values of the movement. Despite being dispersed and driven away by hired men and troopers, the vision of common ownership and communal labor lives on. The song ends with a call to action for the poor to take courage and the rich to take care, as the Earth was meant to be a common treasury for all to share.
Line by Line Meaning
In 1649 to St. George's Hill
The scene takes us to 1649 at St. George's Hill.
A ragged band they called the diggers came to show the people's will
A group of people without wealth or resources; the diggers, sought to make the landlords conform to their needs.
They defied the landlords
The diggers refused to obey the wealthy class.
They defied the laws
The diggers resisted the political system and regulations.
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs
The diggers were the outcasts of society trying to regain what they had lost through the powerful grasp of the wealthy.
We come in peace they said to dig and sow
The diggers came peacefully to farm and cultivate the lands.
We come to work the lands in common and to make the waste grounds grow
The diggers hoped to farm the lands as a community and successfully utilize unused land for growth.
This Earth divided we will make whole so it will be a common treasury for all
The diggers planned to unite the Earth so that all people could prosper and share the wealth of the Earth.
The sin of property we do disdain
The diggers had deep disdain for the concept of property ownership.
No man has any right to buy and sell the Earth for private gain
They believed that the natural land and resources should remain free for everyone, and nobody should be able to buy or sell it for selfish reasons.
By theft and murder they took the land
The lands belonged to other people or communities; however, the wealthy forcefully seized it through immoral means.
Now everywhere the walls spring up at their command
Everywhere, the wealthy put up walls to keep the poor at bay by their decree.
They make the laws to chain us well
The wealthy draft laws which restrict the poor’s freedoms as a form of bondage.
The clergy dazzle us with heaven or they damn us into hell
The priests lead us to either heaven or hell through the pretense of faith or the condemnation of sin.
We will no worship the God they serve
The diggers did not want to worship the wealthy's God, who supports greed and ignores the poor.
The God of greed who feed the rich while poor men starve
The God of the wealthy is a God of greed, who helps the rich continue to prosper while the poor suffer from starvation.
We work we eat together
They work and eat together as a united community.
We need no swords
The diggers exhibited peace and did not require weapons.
We will not bow to the masters or pay rent to the lords
The diggers demonstrated resistance to those with power by negating rents and the landowners' authority.
We are free men, though we are poor
They may be poor, but the diggers take pride in the freedom and justice they fight for.
You diggers all stand up for glory stand up now
The diggers encourage their own to stand up for what they believe in; for the fame will rest with those who fight for what is right.
From the men of property the orders came
Orders from wealthy businesspeople drove the injustice against the diggers.
They sent the hired men and troopers to wipe out the diggers claim
The wealthy sent mercenaries and soldiers to combat the digger's rights to the land.
Tear down their cottages, destroy their corn
The men of property tried to hinder the digger's means of providing food and shelter.
They were dispersed but still the vision lingers on
Although the threat forced them to scatter, the digger's dream of equality continues to exist.
You Poor take courage you rich take care
The poor will continue to rally regardless of any oppression against their freedom; the wealthy should take heed and not deny others' rights.
This Earth was made a common treasury for everyone to share
There are enough resources for everyone, and nobody should withhold them from others who are in need.
All things in common, all people one
They believe that all people should be unobstructed in their sharing of resources and the attainment of justice.
We come in peace the orders came to cut them down
The diggers arrived as non-violent protestors, but the men of property sent support to eradicate the diggers' claims.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BritishBeachcomber
I grew up near Saint George's Hill, where the diggers rebelled. I eventually bought a house nearby. But not in the posh part. Just an ordinary guy trying to make an honest living from the land. Billy Bragg opened my eyes to the truth about the rich and the poor.
@andro7862
"If you don't give us what is ours,
We shan't beg, we'll take it back ourselves"
–Croatian folk song "Padaj Silo i Nepravdo"
@jd_jd_jd
Respect. I like the sound of that. Would you know a version with UK lyrics.
A singer or group name maybe.
Thanks dude✌
Edit: Two yrs old comment, maybe someone else can point me.Thanks
@Doctor_Who_Rocks
And what does the title mean?
@Doctor_Who_Rocks
@Andro & @jd_jd_jd
Well "The Internationale" has similar sentiments * and Billy Bragg's version says "Those who have taken, now they must give/".
* e.g.:
"Ere the thieves will out with their booty/And to all give a happier lot/Each at the forge must do his duty/And we'll strike the iron while it's hot!"
@The_platform763
My history teacher played this as part of my lesson, and im so glad he did. It's good to see a more progressive attitude, especially in teachers. Freedom for all! ✊🏴
@hoodiecollier5542
A majority of education is dominated by progressive or leftist ideology. This isn’t something new.
@Freedom_4_Assange
struth
@stephenbier7992
Rarely, if ever, does one find more inspiring lyrics
@wanderinggoliard
Kylie Minogue's version of locomotion must come in a close second.