Orphans of the Empire
Clegg Johnny Lyrics

In ships they came from Europe, across the salt sea
European colonizers came across the ocean on ships to build and establish colonies

Come for to build and raise a colony
Their main motive was to establish a colony

And in the jungle green their citadels did gleam
They constructed their settlements in the lush green jungle

In tribute and homage to the old country
Their colonies were built to show honor and respect to their origin country

Oh, soon their children grew and promised to be true
The children of colonizers grew up to be loyal to their home country

Orphans of an Empire, their destiny
Those children were the products of the empire and their fate is linked to it

Hold me close, Africa
The singer wants to embrace Africa

Fill my soul, Africa
Africa can satisfy the singer's soul

Let me grow old, Africa
The singer wants to live in Africa for the rest of his life

Let me in
The singer wants to become a part of Africa

Don’t let me go, Africa
The singer doesn't want to leave Africa

Remember me
The singer wants Africa to remember him

Imperial gentleman, he built mighty walls
Colonizers built big walls to protect their colonies

And in the jungle afternoon he plays polo when he’s bored
Colonizers enjoyed their leisure time in the jungle

He sips a gin and tonic, he tells you confidentially
Colonizers drank gin and tonic and shared confidential information

He wished he understood the indigenies
Colonizers wished they knew and understood the native people

But the shadows they are lengthening and the sun it must set
Time is moving on, and the era of colonization is coming to an end

Bewildered and confused he scurries home to his bed
Colonizers are unsure about their future as the sun sets on their empire

He cannot understand the soldiers all at hand
Colonizers can't comprehend the soldiers and their tactics

For with guns you cannot fight a foe that dwells within
You can't use weapons to fight an unseen enemy

But the battle had begun and a soldier he’s become
The colonizer turned into a soldier and got involved in the battle

Who can sing his litany?
Who will tell the story of the soldier?

It's a beggarman’s prayer or a string on the wind
The soldier's story may only be remembered as a prayer or just a whisper

Will that be all that lingers in the memory?
Will the soldier's story be the only thing remembered?

And who will remember that African December?
Who will remember the events that took place in an African December?

When he knelt before the colours and swore to do or die
When the soldier knelt before the flag and vowed to fight until the end

And he kissed his frightened lover, beneath the glowing embers
The soldier said goodbye to his scared lover under a flickering fire

Of a dark, strange heaven, that ancient sky
The night sky was dark and ancient

Now he's gone to dust, just like old soldiers must
The soldier has died and turned into dust

But the mournful mutter of the battlefield still lingers in the air
The sad sounds of the battlefield can still be heard

So it's farewell sweet Caroline, farewell Elizabeth
The singer bids goodbye to Caroline and Elizabeth

Goodbye gentle ladies of the old order
The old order is gone, and the ladies are no longer there

And farewell to your islands carved upon this continent
The colonies established by the ladies are no longer there

Some England, some France, some Germany
Different colonies were established by England, France, and Germany

Oh, soon you will return to that dream across the sea
The old order will soon go back to their home country

'Cause here there's no more honey left for tea
The resources in the colonies have been exploited and won't retain their former wealth

(Hold me close, Africa)
Reiteration of the singer's request to embrace Africa

Fill my soul, Africa
Africa can give the singer a sense of fulfillment

Let me grow old, Africa
The singer wants to spend their old age in Africa

Let me in
The singer wants to become a part of Africa

Don’t let me go, Africa
The singer doesn't want to leave Africa

Remember me
The singer wants to be remembered by Africa

(Khumbula) Will you remember me?
Reiteration of the singer's question about being remembered

(Khumbula) Oh, will you remember me?
The singer still has doubts and wants to confirm if they will be remembered