Most of Johnson's poetry is political, dealing mainly with the experiences of being an African-Caribbean in Britain. However, he has also shown himself more than capable of writing about other issues, such as British foreign policy or the death of anti-racist marcher Blair Peach. His most celebrated poems were written during the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The poems contain graphic accounts of the often racist police brutality occurring at the time.
Johnson's best known albums include his debut "Dread Beat An' Blood", "Forces of Victory", "Bass Culture" and "Making History". Across these albums are spread classics of the dub poetry school of performance - and, indeed, of reggae itself - such as "Dread Beat An' Blood", "Sonny's Lettah, "Inglan Is A Bitch" and "Independant Intavenshan".
When written, Johnson's poetry makes clever use of the unstandardised transcription of Jamaican Creole.
Of late, Johnson has only performed live on an intermittent basis.
Johnson's record label LKJ Records is home to other reggae artists, some of whom made up The Dub Band, with whom Johnson mostly recorded, and other Dub Poets, such as Jean Binta Breeze.
www.lintonkwesijohnson.com
Inglan Is A Bitch
Linton Kwesi Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inglan is a bitch
w'en mi jus' come to Landan toun
mi use to work pan di andahgroun
but workin' pan di andahgroun
y'u don't get fi know your way aroun'
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no runnin' whey fram it
mi get a lickle jab in a big 'otell
an' aftah a while, mi woz doin' quite well
dem staat mi aaf as a dish-washah
but w'en mi tek a stack, mi noh tun clackwatchah!
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
noh baddah try fi hide fram it
w'en em gi'you di lickle wage packit
fus dem rab it wid dem big tax rackit
y'u haffi struggle fi meek en's meet
an' w'en y'u goh a y'u bed y'u jus' cant sleep
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch fi true
a noh lie mi a tell, a true
mi use to work dig ditch w'en it cowl noh bitch
mi did strang like a mule, but, bwoy, mi did fool
den awftah a while mi jus' stap dhu ovahtime
den aftah a while mi jus' phu dung mi tool
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
y'u haffi know how fi suvvive in it
well mi dhu day wok an' mi duh nite wok
mi duh clean wok an' mi duh dutty wok
dem seh dat black man is very lazy
but it y'u si mi wok y'u woulda sey mi crazy
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
y'u bettah face up to it
dem have a lickle facktri up inna Brackly
inna disya facktri all dem dhu is pack crackry
fi di laas fifteen years dem get mi laybah
now awftah fiteen years mi fall out a fayvah
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no runnin' whey fram it
mi know dem have work, work in abundant
yet still, dem mek mi redundant
now, at fifty-five mi gettin' quite ol'
yet still, dem sen' mi fi goh draw dole
Inglan is a bitch
dere's no escapin it
Inglan is a bitch
is whey wi a goh dhu 'bout it?
The song "Inglan Is A Bitch" by Linton Kwesi Johnson is a powerful commentary on the challenges faced by a Black immigrant in London, especially in the 1970s and 80s. The lyrics describe the difficulty of finding work in the underground economy, being exploited by employers, and struggling to make ends meet despite long hours and hard work. The song also highlights the way that the government and society at large are complicit in creating these difficult conditions, with a tax system that takes a disproportionately large share of wages and a widespread perception of Black people as lazy or undeserving.
Throughout the song, Johnson expresses a deep sense of frustration and anger at these injustices, but also acknowledges the resilience and determination of Black immigrants to survive and thrive despite them. By using the phrase "Inglan is a bitch" repeatedly, he emphasizes the systemic nature of these challenges and the ways in which they are not the fault of any individual, but rather the result of larger cultural and economic forces.
Overall, "Inglan Is A Bitch" is a powerful piece of social commentary that continues to resonate with audiences today, especially as issues of race, immigration, and economic justice remain at the forefront of public discourse.
Line by Line Meaning
Inglan is a bitch
England is a difficult place to live and work
Inglan is a bitch
England is a difficult place to live and work
w'en mi jus' come to Landan toun
When I first came to London town
mi use to work pan di andahgroun
I used to work in the underground
but workin' pan di andahgroun
But working in the underground
y'u don't get fi know your way aroun'
You don't get to know your way around
dere's no escapin it
You can't avoid it
dere's no runnin' whey fram it
You can't run away from it
mi get a lickle jab in a big 'otell
I got a small job in a big hotel
an' aftah a while, mi woz doin' quite well
And after a while, I was doing quite well
dem staat mi aaf as a dish-washah
They started me off as a dishwasher
but w'en mi tek a stack, mi noh tun clackwatchah!
But when I took a stand, I didn't become a yes-man
noh baddah try fi hide fram it
You better not try to hide from it
w'en em gi'you di lickle wage packit
When they give you the small wage packet
fus dem rab it wid dem big tax rackit
First, they grab it with their big tax racket
y'u haffi struggle fi meek en's meet
You have to struggle to make ends meet
an' w'en y'u goh a y'u bed y'u jus' cant sleep
And when you go to bed, you just can't sleep
fi true
It's true
a noh lie mi a tell, a true
I'm not lying, it's true
mi use to work dig ditch w'en it cowl noh bitch
I used to dig ditches when it wasn't difficult
mi did strang like a mule, but, bwoy, mi did fool
I worked hard like a mule, but I was foolish
den awftah a while mi jus' stap dhu ovahtime
Then after a while, I just stopped doing overtime
den aftah a while mi jus' phu dung mi tool
Then after a while, I just put down my tool
y'u haffi know how fi suvvive in it
You have to know how to survive in it
well mi dhu day wok an' mi duh nite wok
Well, I did day work and night work
mi duh clean wok an' mi duh dutty wok
I did clean work and dirty work
dem seh dat black man is very lazy
They say that black men are very lazy
but it y'u si mi wok y'u woulda sey mi crazy
But if you see me work, you would say I'm crazy
y'u bettah face up to it
You better face up to it
dem have a lickle facktri up inna Brackly
They have a small factory up in Brackley
inna disya facktri all dem dhu is pack crackry
In this factory, all they do is pack confectionery
fi di laas fifteen years dem get mi laybah
For the last fifteen years, they got my labor
now awftah fiteen years mi fall out a fayvah
Now after fifteen years, I lost my favor
is whey wi a goh dhu 'bout it?
What are we going to do about it?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LINTON KWESI JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@l.khumalo9351
If it went for poetry classes at university I wouldn't have known this masterpiece...
@l.khumalo9351
Having upcoming exams based on it
@lugerdatakraft4691
It is no masterpiece. It is ok. But self flagellation is the latest craze, so...
@rizkyadiyanto7922
â@@lugerdatakraft4691england genocided, oppressed countless people across centuries. "self flagelation" is an understatement.
@philwilliams953
I'm English but I love this! I want it as our national anthem.
@evygrany8592
people are great. that's your gvnt who sxch madness đ remake in context
@beardedscot
We'll take it in Scotland thanks.
@melb7655
@Afterglow1010 this song is actually about police brutality which was invented in the UK, not to mention what that represents colonially. I think this song is a very fitting national anthem
@Mo-yd8xc
Isn't it already?
@Mo-yd8xc
@@melb7655 it's actually a poem. I saw him in Manhattan in the 80s in 1 of his readings. He wasn't backed by music. #LKJ