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Promised Land
by Sharmagne Leland-St. John
Walks Far Woman




Lonnie wants his promised land
His 40 acres and a mule
But Uncle Sam says "Boy,
Don't be such a fool
Cause I'll be damned
If I'm gonna give you any land.
You're fortunate just bein' alive.
Now don't-cha give me any more of your jive.
You're lucky to be on welfare
And you know it.
So son, I'd advise you not to blow it."

They don't call it the Promised Land for nothin'
They promised us land and gave us nothin'

Keoni says his Island was a paradise
Then the Haole came
Hungry for wealth they planted their cane
Now we hang our heads in shame
You made us change our pagan ways
You stole away our rainbow days
When you sold away our native land
And on just one hand
I can count all the gifts you gave to me
You brought us rats and leprosy
Our Island is a tourist trap
And Uncle Sam says "Don't talk back!"

They don't call it the Promised Land for nothin'
They pomised us land and gave us nothin'

My cousin Mountain Bluebird's Mother
Was Crazy Horse's sister
One of the greatest warriors
History's ever seen
But then the cavalry attacked
They put her Mama in a dirt floor shack
With a rickety outhouse way out back
Heya! Uncle Sam
We don't want your trackless land
We don't want this worthless sand
Give us back our Promised Land

They don't call it the Promised Land for nothin'
They promised us land and gave us nothin'

Except a million reasons why



Dedicated to the memory of my mother Rosebud a hereditary Princess of the San
Poils in North Eastern Washington State.

July 7, 1921-November 25, 1998




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