Hard Labour - Geoffrey Oryema

Next to the parking lot

Stood a man in uniform

He heard the wailing voice

And someone beg for mercy

Next to the market-stall

Stood a worried mother

Selling all her mangoes

For the price of magendo

(Magendo)

We were told about

The factory song

They had a promise

There would be a Better day

My brothers found out

They were wrong

It had a melody that

Was filled with hard labour

(Hard labour)

Next to the fancy car

Stood a man in an overcoat

He doesn’t see the crowd

He thinks only of his comfort

Next to the gravel pit

Stood a man in overalls

He has a mighty throw

The fruits of hard labour

We were told about

The factory song

They had a promise

There would be a Better day

My brothers found out

They were wrong

It had a melody that

Was filled with hard labour

Next to the police van

Stood a man in uniform

He sees an angry mob

But he is searching

For his brother

Next to the fallen man

Stood a worried father

He sees his eldest son

Whose fighting days are over

We were told about

The factory song

They had a promise

There would be a Better day

My brothers found out

They were wrong

It had a melody that

Was filled with hard labour

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour)

(Hard labour…)