Vaderland

Vaderland, do you think the Cubans are coming? Vaderland, will the Russians cross the river? Vaderland, do you think they'll call my number? Ag, Vaderland… should I hold the line? Should I trust the generals? Should I trust the radio? Will they send me to the border? Vaderland… are two years just thrown away? Vaderland, I'm older than the boys around me The farm boys are seventeen, they'd never met a Jew They shared their rations, they called me "my joodjie" And they believe every word they're told The PF man drives at a hundred and eighty Hard in the kop, he swears the Israelis are our friends Ag, Vaderland… why don't they ask? Ag, Vaderland… why don't they ask? Lie still, my son, the Vaderland's near Close your eyes now, there's nothing to fear Your Ma and your Pa will stand by the grave And tell all the neighbours their son was so brave We'll fold you a flag, we'll sing you a hymn We'll ask them for more when the numbers get thin Ooh, my son… ooh, my son… The farm boy's ouma told me a story Of the English camps where her mother starved as a child Of the farms burned black and the republics taken So they swore they'd never be weak again Ag, Vaderland… isn't that just like us? We ran from the Tsar, they ran from the Queen Now we both guard the gate… rinse and repeat You flew me in a chopper testing shells over St Lucia A car bomb on Church Street, glass falling like rain Will they bring me home in a box with a flag on? Ag, Vaderland… for what? Lie still, my son, the Vaderland's near Close your eyes now, there's nothing to fear Your Ma and your Pa will stand at the station With a medal, a letter, the thanks of the nation We'll draw you a border, we'll guard every gate We'll pick you an enemy, we'll teach you to hate Ooh, my son… ooh, my son… Vaderland, the boys went home in silence Vaderland, the ouma lit a candle Vaderland… two years… For what?