Lanka Citizen

(’Mahaweli Goddamn” refers to the multi-billion dollar ‘dam’
boondoggle pushed
on Lanka thru the JR UNP by the English and Canadian governments
in the 1980s, with the promise to export hydropower to India! –
To be sung to the tune of Nina Simone’s Mississippi Goddamn!)

Batalanda’s got me so upset!
Suriyakanda made me lose my rest &
Yet everybody knows about:
Mahaweli Goddamn!

Can’t you see it? Can’t you feel it?
It’s all in the air! I can’t stand the pressure
Much longer! Somebody say a sutra!

Batalanda’s got me so upset
Suriyakanda made me lose my breath
& Everybody knows about:
Mahaweli Goddamn!

Green Tigers on my trail! School children sitting in jail!
Black cats crossed my path! I think everyday
Is gonna be my last!

Sakra have mercy on this land of mine –
We all gonna get it in due time, cos
I don’t belong here, I don’t belong there &
I’ve even stopped believing in pooja!

Don’t tell me, I’ll tell you
Me and my people are just about due!
I’ve been there and so I know:
You keep on saying, ‘Go slow’

But that’s just the trouble - too slow!
Washing your dishes - too slow!
Plucking your tea buds - too slow!
Yeah we’re just plain rotten! - too slow!
We too damn lazy! - too slow!
Think its crazy! - too slow!
Where are we going? What are we doing?
I dont know! I dont know!

We just try to do our very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
‘Cos everybody knows about:
Mahaweli Goddamn!

Bet u think we kidding:

Picket lines! School boycotts!
They try to say its a communist plot!
But all we want is equality,
For my sister, my brother,
My people and me!

Yes, you lied to me all these years
you told me to wash and clean my ears
talk real fine just like a lady
and you’ll start calling me haminay!

Oh this country is full of lies
We all gonna die and die like flies
I don’t trust you anymore!
Cos you keep on saying - Go Slow! Go slow!

Well, that’s just the trouble - too slow!
Devolution! - too slow
Mass participation! - too slow
Unification! - too slow
Doing things gradually
will bring more tragedy:
Why don’t you see it, why don’t you feel it
I don’t know, I don’t know

We don’t have to go to Royal
Or even live in Colombo Three
Just give us our equality
Cos everybody knows about Suriyakanda!
Everybody knows about Embilipitiya
Everybody knows about Batalanda!
Everybody knows about Mahaweli Goddamn!

(*Batalanda, Suriyakanda and Embilipitiya
refers to the UNP massacres of innocent children)