In 1649 to St George’s Hill
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people’ s will
They defied the landlords, they defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs
Chorus:
We come in peace” they said “to dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
and to make the waste land grow
This earth divided we will make whole
So it will can be a common treasury for all
The sin of property we do disdain
No one has any right to buy and sell the earth for private gain
By theft and murder they took the land
Now everywhere the walls spring up at their command.
They make the laws to chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven or they damn us into hell
We will not worship the god they serve
The god of greed who feeds the rich while poor men starve
From the men of property, the orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
to wipe out the Diggers’ claim
Tear down their cottages, destroy their corn
They were dispersed, but still the vision lingers on
“You poor take courage, you rich take care
The earth was made a common treasury for everyone to share
All things in common, all people one
We come in peace” – the order came to cut them down