GONE WEST

there is a power sleeping under these streets
whose mother carried you on weary feet 
whose father came for work and changed his name
he came for work, he changed his name 
he found the work, he lost your name 
sleeping but a power just the same

and they have gone into another country
your brightest and your best
on and on into the distance
flame of our resistance
salt of our existence  
gone west

there is a power sleeping nobody knows
the years of washing other people's clothes
who took the garbage out and brought the mail
who swept the streets and felt no shame
who walked the streets and took the blame 
sleeping but a power just the same.

and they have gone into another country
your brightest and your best
on and on into the distance
flame of our resistance
salt of our existence  
gone west