Gold Digger
Yusuf (Cat Stevens) Lyrics
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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! 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."
The song Gold Digger by Yusuf (Cat Stevens) tells the story of a gold miner in South Africa who came to Pretoria in 1946 to find work. The first verse sees the singer, a laborer, asking his boss for his pay, pleading with him not to make him wait any longer, and finally calling out for him to hear the sounds of his starving children. The second verse has the singer recall arriving in Pretoria and being approached by a man with a broken arm who offered him work in the mines. The third and fourth verses explore the hardships and struggles the laborer faces while toiling in the mines – the long hours, dirt, and dust caked over everything, and watching his comrades succumb to the mine's treacherous conditions. In the final verse, the laborer's friend invites him to join the union, assuring him that they would soon be able to stand up against their oppressive boss.
The lyrics of the song seem to describe the life of a poor gold miner fighting for his rights and dignity, in a society where he is treated as nothing more than a tool for wealthy gold mine owners. The poignant and straightforward lyrics underscore the dire circumstances of miners and the daily struggle they face to survive. The song is a powerful critique of the exploitation of workers in the gold mining industry, and the way their dignity and rights are trampled upon by those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
I am demanding the wages that you owe me. Where are they?
Hmm. Mr. Gold Man! Not one more day.
I refuse to continue working for you without receiving my overdue pay.
Mister! Can't you hear my children cryin'?
My children are in distress, and I am struggling to provide for them. Please listen to my plea.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! I'm for sale!
I am in desperate need of money and am willing to subject myself to any work you have available.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Please don't turn away.
I am begging you to give me an opportunity to work and earn a living for my family.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear my tummy rumbling?
I am hungry and in need of resources to sustain myself and my family.
"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."
There is an opportunity to work in gold mining for those who are willing, but it is a difficult and low-paying job.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
I am reminding you once again of the wages that you owe me.
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't wait another day.
I am no longer willing to wait for my overdue pay. I need it now.
Oh Mr. Gold Man! Can't you see I'm almost dying?
My situation is so dire that I feel as though I am dying. I need your help.
"I'm a gold digger man,
22 pence a shift - no overtime."
I work in the gold mines and earn a very low wage with no additional pay for overtime.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Where's my pay?
I am still demanding the wages that you owe me.
O Mr. Gold Man! Won't wait another day.
I can no longer wait any longer for my overdue pay. This is unacceptable and must be resolved now.
O Mr. Gold Man! Can't you hear the thunder coming?
There is a sense of impending danger or trouble, and I need to resolve my situation before it gets worse.
Hey Mr. Gold Man! Loose these chains.
I am demanding freedom from the bondage of poverty and unfair labor practices.
Time Mr. Gold Man! Change is on its way.
The times are changing, and it is time for me to demand fair treatment and compensation for my work.
Go Mr. Gold Man! Don't come back, this is my country now
I am taking control and demanding my rights as a citizen of this country. You are no longer welcome here.
"You'd better be leaving now
Mr. Gold Man."
It is time for you to leave, as your oppressive practices are no longer welcome here.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: YUSUF ISLAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rukiyeturan3344
This is my country now🌈👍❤ love you CAT STEVENS.THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME,,,,,,SINCE I WAS BORN,,,,,,🙂👍,,LOVE THE WAY YOU WALK,,,LOVE THE WAY YOU TALK,,,AND I HEAR THE SOUND ALMOST,,, HAVENLY,,,,SO DEEP AND SO HIGH!!!T😊THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH,,,SINCE 1971
@supersleuth3527
I love the revival of the messages that I was first hearing in the late 60’s and all through the 70’s. It’s a second awakening.
@Ponchiegomezsaso
WOW !! .. this is fantastic !! .. I will never forget hearing you sing this in Boston 2014..on the Peace Train Late again tour !! Thank you for coming back to the USA Yusuf...
@madelinegoodall1376
This is such a powerful performance of a song that had to be written.
@Ponchiegomezsaso
Love those electric blues.... Gold diggers and blood diamonds a story that needs to be told and you do it beautifully through song.
@miguelteixido3157
La vuelta a la musica de Cat/yusuf Stevens es una gran alegria desde 2006 con albumes al nivel clasico.este actual es buenisimo.
@solangeloe-sack-sioe1487
Wow!!! That is wild!!! You go Yusuf!!! Love it!!!❤️
@madelinegoodall1376
Thank you for putting out the original video of Gold Digger What an amazing song, the lyrics are so true. This is my favourite track on the album Tell 'Em I'm gone
@rosamarthafernandez1734
Buenísimo
@esrakaya3057
My favourite from this lp