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Who'd be my Master Today
Who’d Be My Master Today?
The Slave Masters
Devious devout Christian men
Women and children
Who thought Negroes
Were not human at all
But servants to do their bidding
At their beck and call
They bred them like cattle
Whip them with
Cat-o-nine tails
They trade them at auctions
For money, mortgages
Or just dry goods
Who’d be my Master today
Maybe another Mr. Shelby
Not Lecherous Legree
Maybe another St Clare?
Yes today is dawning
They shine and clean us
Sambo’s shining
Quimbo is sombre
We look so neat and tidy
Today we go to the waterhole
Where they will fatten us
To look good for the auction
We have to look happy
We must be good
Strong and shining
For our new Masters
Yes today is the auction
All the unfortunate
Would go to market
There would be separation
From their beloved ones
Daughters would be used
For the filthy pleasure
And many would be abused
By some pipe smoking
Pot bellied gentleman
Then used and recycled
And then sold again
To another Sunday going
Christian gentleman
And he’ll give thanks to God
And the obedient slaves
Who’d be my master today?
Would he flog me
Whenever he feels?
Or select my sister
If he so desires
Or my poor Mama
To amuse him tonight
Who’d be my master today?
Ah! the little ones
The mulatto
The quadroon
Would I get better treatment?
Cause I have some colour
Cause I have some curls
Would I ever see?
My Mammy again
They preach to us
To be good Christians
Then they flog us
Where is Jesus
Where is God
Where is Yahweh
We work, we pray
We’d never done wrong
We sing for them
Yet they flog us
They say it’s good
To keep us straight
Who’d be my master today?
Would I ever see Eva?
Or Topsy, where are you
Uncle Tom I hope you get
A good master
Such a good man
That Uncle Tom
Who never got his freedom
They promised him
But sold him instead
The good obedient
Poor Uncle Tom
Would my new master
Know the art of sinning expertly
And guard us genteely?
