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We'll Make The World Better Yet

from Traces of Freedom by Alan Dickson

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about

Written by Robert Nicoll, a much forgotten radical figure from the early nineteenth century expresses discontent against the establishment of the day, yet also offers hope. He is buried in Leith.

lyrics

The braw folk crush the poor folk down,
An’ blood an’ tears are rinnin’ hot;
An’ meikle ill and meikle wan,
We a’ upon the earth have met,
An’ falsehood aft comes boldly forth,
And on the throne of truth doth sit;
But true hearts a’ – gae work awa’ –
We’ll make the world better yet!

Though superstition, hand in hand,
W’ prejudice – that gruesome hag –
Gangs linkin’ still; though misers make
Their heaven o’ a siller bag:
Though ignorance, wi’ bloody hand,
Is tryin slavery’s bonds to knit –
Put knee to knee, ye bold an’ free,
We’ll make the world better yet!

See yonder cooff wha becks an’ bows
To yonder fool wha’s ca’d a lord:
See yonder gowd–bedizzen’d wight –
Yon’ fopling o’ the bloodless sword.
Baith slave, an’ lord, an’ soldier too,
Maun honest grow, or quickly flit;
For freeman a’, baith grit an’ sma’, -
We’ll make the world better yet!

Yon dreamer tells us o’ a land
He frae his airy brain hath made –
A land where truth and honesty
Have crushed the serpent falsehood’s head.
But by the names o’ love and joy,
An’ common - sense, and lear an’ wit,
Put back to back, - and in a crack
We’ll make the world better yet!

The knaves and fools may rage and storm,
The growling bigot may deride –
The trembling slave away may rin,
And in his tyrant’s dungeon hide;
But free and bold, and true and good,
Unto this oath their seal have set –
“Frae pole to pole we’ll free ilk soul, -
We’ll make the world better yet!

Yon dreamer tells us o’ a land
He frae his airy brain hath made –
A land where truth and honesty
Have crushed the serpent falsehood’s head.
But by the names o’ love and joy,
An’ common - sense, and lear an’ wit,
Put back to back, - and in a crack
We’ll make the world better yet!

credits

from Traces of Freedom, released November 6, 2015

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Alan Dickson Glasgow, UK

Scottish singer songwriter Alan Dickson was born in Leith but now based in Glasgow. Alan writes about life in Scotland and beyond, mainly of a personal and political nature.

Descended from a Leith docker, he remarks: "as life mimics art I'm just like my grandfather, only he used a rivet gun and I use a guitar."

Among his influences are Robert Burns, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Dick Gaughan. ... more

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