Union Songs
I won't detain you long
A poem by John Tomlinson©2004 John Tomlinson
If I could sing, I'd sing a song
about the need to right the wrong,
defend the weak, resist the strong
and ask you all to come along.They escaped from lands afar
had to do things quite bizarre
in the hope of freedom they might find
and with a bit of luck, even peace of mind.
We met them at the border gate
in the place of love, we showed them hate.
We locked them up with razor wire
and wondered why cells caught on fire.
We jailed their children and their wives
and some of them we took their lives.
If they‚d jumped through every hoop
we would offer only distant hope.If I could sing, I'd sing a song
about the need to right the wrong,
defend the weak, resist the strong
and ask you all to come along.The world could be a better place
if we put an end to this disgrace.
If we could find it in our heart
to befriend newcomers from the start
to share with them our wide brown land,
to extend to them a welcoming hand,
remove them from the desert sand
and together come to understand
we must oppose this vicious band
which insists upon total command.If I could sing, I‚d sing a song
about the need to right the wrong,
defend the weak, resist the strong
and ask you all to come along.If detention centres were all closed
then decent questions could be posed
and we might find a far better way
to help asylum seekers stay.
Then at last we could sleep at night
knowing we‚re trying to get things right,
not letting our brains get all uptight,
and hiding our consciences out of sight.
Together we can win this fight,
share the wealth and do what‚s right.
We wont come like thieves in the night
but will march together in the broad day light.
Notes
Many thanks to John Tomlinson for permission to add this poem to the Union Songs collection.