Annie Dear (Durban Town) Chris Charlesworth [written 2008 / Recorded 2009]
Annie, dear
What has become
Of my work at the Brass Foundry
The guv’nor tells I’m of need no more
Replaced by the steam machine
Replaced by the steam machine
I have wrestled at night
Fought floods of fear
Dreaded for my near family
How shall we feed our eight babies
And buy coal for the winter cheer
How shall we feed our eight babies
And buy coal for the Christmas cheer
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Now, Ralph, I say,
For to fear no more
I have sought the agent Pearce
He swears there’s warmth and food to boot
Stacked high on South Africa’s shores
My dear
Stacked high on South Africa’s shores
In Birmingham town
There’s a placard red
With promise of a life anew
Our German prince and his plump Queen Vic
Have need of men like you
Our German prince and his plump Queen Vic
Have need of men like you
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Why Annie, I say, I have seen it too
The thrill of adventure lures
There’s lions to kill
And gold to claim
And plunder to be had for sure
My dear
And plunder to be had for sure
Also churches to grow
For our Bishop high
And Christians of the heathen make
Tarry no longer, my sweet lady
Bid England’s shores adieu
Tarry no longer, my sweet lady
Bid England’s shores adieu
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On stout ship “John Bright”, from Liverpool Dock
They sailed on that promised day
A trunk of possessions
And eight babies
Aspidistra t’keep the flame
Through wind and hail
And Doldrums sea
They ploughed to the Cape of Storms
Until the ship it’s anchor threw
On D’Urban bank, offshore
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Hands to the brow
They cast their sight
To the shores of D’Urban town
Great heat beat down,naught piles of food
Nor plunder of the human kind
To see
Nor plunder of the human kind
Their dreams were rowed
One mile to shore
But the horses swam instead
The Great White Shark took all, but one
And the sea he boiled blood red
The Great White Shark took all, but one
And the sea he boiled blood red
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No paradise
No promised land
Beneath their feet appeared
But snake and thorn and Zulu proud
The Queen’s army cut down
But snake and thorn and Zulu proud
The Queen’s army cut down
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Oh Annie, dear, what have we done ?
We’ve bid England’s shores adieu
Enslaved by empire
It’s well-hung prince
To bring wealth to the lordship’s few
Quite so
To bring wealth to the lordship’s few
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In stealth, my Love
We will nurture proud
Our babies and their children too
Until such time life’s wheel shall turn
Bid African shores adieu
Until such time life’s wheel shall turn
Bid African shores adieu
