Gold Digger
Yusuf Lyrics


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Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Hmm. Mr. Gold Man! Not one more day.
Mister! Can't you hear my children cryin'?

Came to Pretoria in 46, find myself a job
Met a man with a broken arm, he said:
Come along with us, get onto the bus
Hey Mr. Gold Man! I'm for sale!
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Please don't turn away.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear my tummy rumbling?

"Hey! You a gold digger? There's a job for gold diggers here
You won't get much - but it's a way to survive."

So we continued down the road, till we got to the mine
Dirt and dust all around us now - Hey! I didn't mind
Cause I'm on the workline

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't wait another day.
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't you see I'm almost dying?

"I'm a gold digger man,
22 pence a shift - no overtime."

Then I heard a good friend say: There's a happening in Town
Come and join the Union, boy. 'Cause today, we ain't going down,
We're gonna stand our ground.

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
O Mr. Gold Man! Won't wait another day.
O Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear the thunder coming?

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Loose these chains.
Time Mr. Gold Man! Change is on its way.
Go Mr. Gold Man! Don't come back, this is my country now





"You'd better be leaving now
Mr. Gold Man."

Overall Meaning

The song "Gold Digger" by Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) tells the story of a man who came to Pretoria in 1946 to find work and ends up working in a gold mine. He expresses his frustration and desperation to his employer, whom he calls "Mr. Gold Man," asking for his pay, for food, and for his chains to be loosened. He also appeals to the employer's humanity, asking if he can hear the crying of his children. The lyrics are a powerful commentary on the exploitation of workers in the mining industry, particularly in South Africa, and the struggle for workers' rights.


The song also tells a story of hope and resistance, as the workers come together to form a union and stand up to their employer. The singer of the song joins the union, and they refuse to be defeated by the oppressive system. Ultimately, they drive out the gold diggers and claim the land for themselves.


The song is a protest song that speaks to the larger social and political issues of its time, including apartheid and the struggle for workers' rights. It also has a timeless quality that speaks to the ongoing struggles of workers and marginalized communities around the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Asking the boss why he hasn't been paid yet


Hmm. Mr. Gold Man! Not one more day.
Demanding payment immediately


Mister! Can't you hear my children cryin'?
Appealing to the boss's empathy for his starving family


Hey Mr. Gold Man! I'm for sale!
Offering to work eagerly for the boss


Hey Mr. Gold Man! Please don't turn away.
Pleading with the boss to give him work and pay


Hey Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear my tummy rumbling?
Hunger has made him desperate for work and food


"Hey! You a gold digger? There's a job for gold diggers here You won't get much - but it's a way to survive."
Offering a job with low wages to survive


So we continued down the road, till we got to the mine Dirt and dust all around us now - Hey! I didn't mind Cause I'm on the workline
Going to the mine to work, despite the physical discomfort, because it is a way to earn money


Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't wait another day.
Demanding payment before he starves


Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't you see I'm almost dying?
Asking the boss to understand his serious and worsening suffering


"I'm a gold digger man, 22 pence a shift - no overtime."
Describing his low wage job as a gold digger


Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
Continuing to ask for payment


O Mr. Gold Man! Won't wait another day.
Warning the boss that he cannot afford to wait any longer for payment


O Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear the thunder coming?
Expressing a sense of impending change and struggle


Hey Mr. Gold Man! Loose these chains.
Demanding freedom from oppression and poverty


Time Mr. Gold Man! Change is on its way.
Believing that progress and transition are approaching


Go Mr. Gold Man! Don't come back, this is my country now
Claiming ownership over his life and country, and rejecting exploitation


"You'd better be leaving now Mr. Gold Man."
Making clear that the boss is not welcome and should leave




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: YUSUF ISLAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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FiggiiiArt

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DropXP

I have a feeling the dude who created the real Generation hope channel had something like this happen in real life

wendell vlogs

That boy said a lemon 😭😭😭 that’s avocado

Pretentious frocilision 45

what did the ex regret

Blazé Tokes

Nah the "sike" n then stepping on the sandwich is an abomination

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