Inglan Is A Bitch - Linton Kwesi Johnson

W’en mi jus' come to Landan toun

Mi use to work pan di andahgroun

But workin' pan di andahgroun

Y’u don’t get fi know your way around

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no runnin' whey fram it

Mi get a lickle jab in a bih 'otell

An' awftah a while, mi woz doin' quite well

Dem staat mi aaf as a dish-washah

But w’en mi tek a stack, mi noh tun clack-watchah

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

No baddah try fi hide fram it

W’en dem gi' you di lickle wage packit

Fus dem rab it wid dem big tax rackit

Y’u haffi struggle fi mek en’s meet

An' w’en y’u goh a y’u bed y’u jus' can’t sleep

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

A noh lie mi a tell, a true

Mi use to work dig ditch w’en it cowl noh bitch

Mi did strang like a mule, but bwoy, mi did fool

Den awftah a while mi jus' stap dhu ovahtime

Den awftah a while mi jus' phu dung mi tool

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

Y’u haffi know how fi survive in it

Well mi dhu day wok an' mi dhu nite wok

Mi dhu clean wok an' mi dhu dutty wok

Dem seh dat black man is very lazy

But if y’u si how mi wok y’u woulda sey mi crazy

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

Y’u bettah face up to it

Dem a have a lickle facktri up inna Brackly

Inna disya facktri all dem dhu is pack crackry

Fi di laas fifteen years dem get mi laybah

Now awftah fifteen years mi fall out a fayvah

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no runnin' whey fram it

Mi know dem have work, work in abundant

Yet still, dem mek mi redundant

Now, at fifty-five mi gettin' quite ol'

Yet still, dem sen' mi fi goh draw dole

Inglan is a bitch

Dere’s no escapin it

Inglan is a bitch

Is whey wi a goh dhu 'bout it?